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STANDARD   DESK-BOOK   SERIES 


A  Desk-Book  of 

Errors  in  English 


Including  Notes  on  Colloquialisms  and  Slang 
to  be  Avoided  in  Conversation 


By  Frank  H.  Vizetelly,  Litt.D.,  LL.D. 

Managing  Editor  of  "Funk  &  Wagnalls   New   Standard  Dictionary 

of  the  English  Language";  Author  of  "Essentials  of 

English  Speech  and  Literature,"  Etc. 


A   REVISED   EDITION 


FUNK  &  WAGNALLS   COMPANY 

NEW  YORK  and  LONDON 


Copyright,  1906  and  1920.  by 
FUNK  &  WAGNALLS  COMPANY 

[Printed  in  the  United  States  0/  America] 

Copyritfbt  Under  the  Articles  of  the  Copyright  Convention 

of  the  Pan-American  Republics  and  the  United  States. 

August  11.  1910 


Published    January  1.  1920 


All  Ritfhts  Reserved 


\ 


?).3 


\^1  0 
"I  PREFACE 

J^  The  fact  that  this  little  book  has  passed  through 

px         many   editions,   and  now   enters  on  a  new   one   in 

rl  revised  form,  is  ample  answer  to  its  writer's  prayer 

^         when,  w4th  the  aid  of  his  Publishers,  he  launched 

it  on  an  uncertain  voyage  over  the  seas  of  time — 

•*  Go,  little  book,  God  send  thee  good  passage. 
And  specially  let  this  be  thy  prayer: 
Unto  them  all  that  thee  will  read  or  hear. 
Where  thou  art  wrong,  after  their  help  to  call, 
Thee  to  correct  in  any  part  or  all." 

{Chaucer.') 

It  is  with  sincere  gratitude  to  the  Publishers  that 

.  ^  the  author  acknowledges  the  results  achieved  to  have 

^  been  due  wholly  to  their  kindly  interest  and  indefati- 

'^  gable  efforts.     He  ventures  to  hope  that  this  new 

i  edition,  and  such  subsequent  editions  as  time  may 

\$  require,  will  be  found  to  measure  fully  up  to  the 

r^  expectations  of  the  discriminating  Public  on  which 

"^  it  depends  for  support. 


F.  H.  V. 


New  York,  January,  1^20, 


111 


749201 


INTRODUCTORY 

In  these  days  when  the  vernacular  of  the  street 
invades  the  home  ;  when  illiterate  communications 
corrupt  good  grammar  ;  and  when  the  efforts  of  the 
teachers  in  the  public  schools  are  rendered  ineffect 
ive  by  parents  careless  of  their  diction,  constant  at 
tempts  are  being  made  to  point  out  the  way  to  that 
"  Well  of  English  imdefiled  "  so  dear  to  the  heart 
of  the  purist.  But,  notwithstanding  these  efforts  to 
correct  careless  diction,  the  abuse  and  misuse  of 
words  continue.  The  one  besetting  sin  of  the 
English-speaking  people  is  a  tendency  to  use  collo- 
quial inelegancies,  slang,  and  vulgarisms,  and  against 
these,  as  against  the  illiteracies  of  the  street,  it  is 
our  duty  to  guard,  nowadays  more  so  than  at  any 
other  time,  since  what  is  learnt  in  the  schoolroom  is 
soon  forgotten  or  displaced  by  association  with  il- 
literate playfellows,  or  by  occasionally  hearing  words 
misused  at  home. 

Of  the  purely  syntactical  side  of  the  English  lan- 
guage, no  less  a  master  of  its  intricacies  and  nice- 
ties than  Thomas  Jefferson  has  said  '^  I  am  not  a 
friend  to  a   scrupulous  purism  of   st)'le  ;  I  readily 

V 


V*  Introductory 

sacrifice  the  niceties  of  syntax  to  euphony  and 
strength.  It  is  by  boldly  neglecting  the  rigorisms 
of  grammar  that  Tacitus  has  made  himself  the 
strongest  writer  in  the  world.  The  hyperesthetics 
call  him  barbarous ;  but  I  should  be  sorry  to  ex- 
change his  barbarisms  for  their  wiredrawn  purisms. 
Some  of  his  sentences  are  as  strong  as  language 
can  make  them.  Had  he  scrupulously  filled  up  the 
whole  of  their  syntax,  they  would  have  been  merely 
common.  To  explain  my  meaning  by  an  English 
example,  I  will  quote  the  motto  of  one,  I  believe,  of 
the  regicides,  of  Charles  I.,  *  Rebellion  to  tyrants  is 
obedience  to  God.'  Correct  its  syntax  <  Rebellion 
against  tyrants  is  obedience  to  God.'  It  has  lost 
all  the  strength  and  beauty  of  the  antithesis."  And 
Jefferson  continued  :  "  Where  strictness  of  grammar 
does  not  weaken  expression,  it  should  be  attended 
to.  But  where,  by  small  grammatical  negligences, 
the  energy  of  an  idea  is  condensed,  or  a  word  stands 
for  a  sentence,  I   hold  grammatical  rigor  in  con 

tempt." 

The  English  language  is  the  most  flexible  lan- 
guage in  the  world.  Indeed,  it  is  so  flexible  that 
some  of  its  idioms  are  positively  startling.  Could 
any  phrase  be  more  so  than  **  I  don't  think  it  will 
rain  "  ? — Simple  enough  as  an  idiom  but  positively 
absurd  when  analyzed.  We  say  "  /  don't  think  it 
will  rain  "  when  we  mean  "  I  do  think  it  will  not  rain.*' 


Introductory  -  vii 

Again,  we  say  "  All  over  the  world  "  when  we  should 
say  "  Over  all  the  world,"  and  "the  reason  why" 
mstead  of  "  the  reason  that."  Usage  has  made  our 
language  w^hat  it  is  ;  grammatical  rules  strive  to 
limit  it  to  what  it  ought  to  be.  In  many  instances 
usage  has  supplanted  grammatical  rules.  Hun- 
dreds of  words  have  been  used  by  masters  of  Eng- 
lish in  ways  that  violate  these  rules.  These  uses 
are  to  be  found  to-day  recorded  by  the  dictionaries 
because  lexicographers  recognize  it  is  their  duty  to 
present  the  language  as  they  find  it  used  by  the 
people.  It  is  to  the  people,  not  to  the  purists,  that 
one  must  look  for  the  enriching  of  our  mother 
tongue.  To  them  it  is  as  impossible  to  confine  the 
English  language  within  the  bonds  of  grammatical 
rules  as  it  is  to  stem  the  tide  of  the  sea.  For  them 
all  matters  that  relate  to  English  speech  can  be  de- 
cided only  by  the  law  of  good  usage.  This,  and 
this  alone  is  their  Court  of  Last  Resort.  Withal, 
the  observance  of  certain  conventional  rules  does  no 
harm  if  it  helps  him  who  speaks  carelessly  to  pro- 
duce a  refined  st}'le  of  diction  and  writing,  or  if  it 
teaches  him  who  does  not  know,  what  to  say  and 
how  to  say  it. 

The  secret  of  strength  in  speech  and  writing 
lies  in  the  art  of  using  the  right  word  in  the  right 
place  ;  therefore,  careful  speakers  and  writers  should 
aim  to  command  not  only  a  large  vocabulary  but  a 


viii  Introductory 

wide  and  correct  knowledge  of  the  meanings  of 
words.  These  can  be  most  readily  acquired  by  no 
ting  the  meaning  of  every  new  word  across  which 
one  may  come  in  reading,  and  by  constantly  con- 
sulting a  dictionary,  preferably  one  which  compares 
or  contrasts  words  in  such  a  manner  as  to  bring  out 
clearly  the  finer  and  nicer  distinctions  in  their  mean- 
ings— such  distinctions  as  are  necessar}"  to  the  stu- 
dent to  put  him  into  possession  of  the  essential 
differences  of  the  words  compared.  Learn  the 
meaning  of  words  and  your  tongue  will  never  slip. 
As  Southey  has  said,  "  the  greatest  wisdom  of  speech 
is  to  know  when,  and  what,  and  where  to  speak; 
the  time,  matter,  and  manner." 

The  best  asset  in  life  is  knowledge.  Knowledge 
well-grounded  may  be  secured  by  the  systematic 
study  of  words.  The  desirabilit}^  of  exercising  great 
care  not  only  in  the  selection  of  words,  but  in  mar- 
shaling them  in  their  correct  order  must  be  apparent 
to  any  one  familiar  with  some  of  the  errors  com- 
mitted by  writers  who,  notwithstanding  the  blunders 
they  have  made,  have  acquired  reputation  as  authors 
of  good  English,  Dr.  Samuel  Johnson,  in  his 
"  Lives  of  the  Poets,"  is  responsible  for  the  follow- 
ing statement :  "  Shakespeare  has  not  only  shown  hu- 
man nature  as  it  is,  but  as  it  would  be  foujid  in  situa- 
tions to  ivhich  it  ca?i?iotbe  exposed'''' — a  statement  the  ab- 
surdity of  which  can  not  fail  to  impress  the  reader. 


Introductory  ix 

In  the  King  James  Version  of  the  Bible,  quoted 
by  some  authorities  as  a  standard  of  pure  EngUsh, 
one  may  find  the  following,  which  occurs  in  Isaiah 
xxxvii.  36  :  ^'  Then  the  angel  of  the  Lord  went  forth 
and  smote  in  the  camp  of  the  Assyrians  a  hundred 
and  fourscore  and  five  thousand  ;  and  when  they 
arose  early  in  the  morning,  behold  t/iey  were  all 
dead  corpses ^  It  can  hardly  be  supposed  that  the 
translators  meant  to  imply  that  the  corpses  arose 
early  in  the  morning  and  found  themselves  dead. 
In  the  second  act  of  "  Julius  Caesar,"  Shakespeare 
puts  into  the  mouth  of  Ligarius  the  following :  "  I 
will  strive  with  things  impossible ;  yea,  get  the  better 
of  them."  For  power  of  perseverance  Ligarius  is  to 
be  commended.  Hallam,  author  of  the  "  Literature 
of  Europe,"  declared  that  "  No  one  as  yet  had  ex- 
hibited the  structure  of  the  human  kidneys,  Vesilius 
having  only  examined  them  in  dogs  " — a  declaration 
which  implies  that  the  dog  must  have  bolted  them 
whole.  The  London  Times  has  occasionally  perpe- 
trated absurdities  which  equal,  if  they  do  not  surpass, 
these.  In  an  obituary  announcing  the  death  of 
Baron  Dowse  it  said,  "  A  great  Irishman  has  passed 
away.  God  grant  that  many  as  great,  and  who  shall 
as  'wisely  love  their  country,  may  follow  him."  Here 
the  intended  wish  is  not  that  many  great  Irishmen 
may  die  but  that  there  may  be  many  to  follow  him 
who  shall  love  their  country  as  well  as  he  did.     An 


^  Introductory 

equally  absurd  example  taken  from  an  issue  of  the 
Freeman'' s  Journal oi  the  year  1890,  announces  "  The 
health  of  Mr.  Parnell  has  lately  taken  a  very  serious 
turn,  and  fears  of  his  recovery  are  entertained  by  his 
friands,"  which,  one  may  add,  was  rather  unfriendly 
on  their  part.  Isaac  Disraeli  in  his  *'  Curiosities  o\ 
Literature  "  himself  was  guilty  of  an  absurdity  when 
he  wrote,  "  It  is  curious  to  observe  the  various  sub- 
stitutes for  paper  before  its  invention^ 

Errors  of  a  different  sort  found  their  way  even  into 
our  earlier  dictionaries.  Cockeram  defined  a  lynx 
as  "  a  spotted  beast  which  hath  the  most  perfect 
sight  in  so  much  as  it  is  said  that  it  can  see  through 
a  wall."  The  salamander  he  described  as  *'  a  small 
venomous  beast  with  foure  feet  and  a  short  taile ;  it 
lives  in  the  fire,  and  at  length  by  its  extreme  cold 
puts  out  the  fire."  Both  of  these  definitions  show 
the  rudimentary  stage  of  the  knowledge  of  our  fore- 
fathers in  matters  zoological. 

Of  slang  no  less  eminent  a  writer  of  English  than 
Richard  Grant  White  has  said,  *'  Slang  is  a  vocabu- 
lary of  genuine  words  or  unmeaning  jargon,  used 
always  with  an  arbitrary  and  conventional  significa- 
tion," and  because  "it  is  mostly  coarse,  low,  and 
foolish,"  certain  slang  terms  and  phrases  have  been 
included  in  the  following  pages,  together  with  a  few 
undesirable  colloquialisms.  These  are  included  be- 
cause the  indiscriminate  use  of  slang  leads  to  slov* 


Introductory  » 

enliness  in  speech.  Not  all  slang  is  slovenly,  incor- 
rect, or  vicious ;  much  of  it  is  virile,  expressive, 
and  picturesque.  It  is  against  the  spread  of  that 
part  of  slang  which  is  slovenly,  incorrect,  foolish,  or 
vicious,  that  one  should  guard. 

The  purpose  of  these  pages  is  not  to  dictate  a 
precise  course  to  be  followed,  nor  to  lay  down  rules 
that  will  prevent  any  speaker  or  writer  from  exercis- 
ing his  privilege  as  an  individual  of  speaking  or 
writing  freely  and  independently  the  thoughts  that 
are  uppermost  in  his  mind.  It  is,  rather,  to  point  out 
common  errors  which  he  may  unconsciously  commit, 
and  to  help  him  to  avoid  them  and  the  \ailgarisms 
of  the  street  which  have  crept  into  the  language,  as 
well  as  those  absurd  blunders  that  have  been  re- 
corded as  the  unconscious  acts  of  persons  qualified 
in  other  respects  to  rank  as  masters  of  English. 
To  this  end,  and  to  this  end  only,  the  following 
vocabulary  of  errors  in  English  has  been  compiled. 

Thanks  are  due  to  the  Funk&  Wagnalls  Company 
for  permission  to  cite  freely   from   the  "  Standard 
Dictionary  of  the  English  Language  "  in  the  follow 
ing  pages. 


Mend  your  speech  a  little, 
Lest  it  may  mar  your  fortunes. 

—  Shakespeare,  A"//!^  Lear,  Act  i,  Sc.  1. 


A  DESK-BOOK  OF 

ERRORS   IN   ENGLISH 

A 

a,  an:  Before  an  aspirated  "h,"  as  in  ''Hibernian- 
ism,"  the  article  "a"  should  be  used,  "A"  is  used 
when  the  next  word  begins  with  a  coJisonant  sound; 
"an"  when  it  begins  with  a  rowel  or  silent  "h." 
Though  never  so  feebly  aspirated,  "h"  has  something 
of  a  consonant  sound,  and  the  article  in  this  case 
ought  to  conform  to  the  general  principle,  as  in  "a 
historic  introduction  has  generally  a  happy  effect  to 
arouse  attention."  To  be  correct  one  should  say :  an 
island,  a  Highlander;  an  oysterman,  a  hoister;  a 
hotel,  an  onion;  a  herb,  an  heir;  a  house,  an  owl. 
Some  persons  do  not  aspirate  the  *'h"  in  "herb"; 
when  the  *'h"  is  not  aspirated,  the  word  takes  the 
article  "an,"  not  "a  " 

abandon,  forsake,  desert:  To  abandon  is  to  give  up 
entirely,  as  home  and  friends,  and  implies  previous 
association  with  responsibility  for  or  control ;  to  for- 
sake is  to  leave  or  withdraw  from  a  person  or  place, 
and  suggests  previous  association  with  inclination  or 

1 


abbreviate        A  Desk-Book  of 
accord 

attachment.  Abandon  2in6.  forsake  may  be  used  in  a 
favorable  or  unfavorable  sense.  Desert  is  to  leave 
permanently  and  especially  without  regard  for  the 
person  or  thing  deserted ;  it  is  used  only  in  an  un- 
favorable sense  and  usually  implies  a  breach  of 
duty. 

Some  writers  assert  that  desert  is  used  only  "  of 
causes  or  persons  but  not  of  things."  This  is  erro- 
neous. There  is  ample  evidence  of  its  correct  appli- 
cation to  things ;  as  the  soldier  deserts  his  colors ; 
the  sailor  deserts  his  ship. 

abbreviate,  abridge  :  Discriminate  carefully  be- 
tween these  words.  To  abbreviate  is  to  shorten  a 
word  so  that  a  part  stands  for  the  whole ;  to  abridge 
is  to  condense  or  epitomize,  as  a  report,  in  such 
manner  that  the  spirit  of  the  original  is  retained 
though  it  is  expressed  in  fewer  words. 

ability,  capacity  :  These  words  are  not  exactly 
synonymous  in  meaning  when  used  in  the  singular. 
Ability  is  bodily  or  mental  power;  capacity  is  re- 
ceptive or  containing  power.  Ability  when  used  in 
the  plural  embraces  both  meanings. 

about.     Compare  almost. 

above  :  Inelegantly  used  as  a  noun  by  ellipsis  of 
some  noun  as  "  He  wrote  the  above '^  for  "  the  above 
phrased  A  more  objectionable  use  is  as  an  ad- 
jective ;  as,  "■  I  submit  the  above  facts  "  for  "  I  sub- 
mit the  above-menXionQd   facts,"      The  use  of  the 

2 


Errors  in  English       abbreviate 

accord 
word  "foregoing"  or  the  more  legal  expression 
"  before-mentioned "  would  better  meet  the  case. 
Lamb,  always  inclined  to  be  humorous,  ridicules 
the  expression  by  referring  to  ''the  above  boys  and 
the  below  boys." 

above  should  not  be  used  for  "  more  than." 

acceptance,  acceptation  :  Terms  sometimes  used 
interchangeably  but  incorrectly  so.  "  Acceptance  " 
is  the  state  of  being  accepted ;  as  the  acceptance  of  a 
position  or  office ;  acceptation  is  the  favorable  admis- 
sion of  or  acquiescence  in  a  matter,  or  assent  to  a 
belief. 

accept  of  :  A  visitor  does  not  accept  of  the  hospi- 
tality of  his  host,  but  accepts  his  hospitality.  In  this 
phrase  "  of  "  is  redundant. 

accident,  injury :  These  words  are  used  some- 
times incorrectly.  An  "  accident  "  is  that  which 
happens  without  known  or  assignable  cause  or  with- 
out deliberate  intention ;  an  "  injury  "  is  a  hurt  that 
causes  physical  or  mental  pain  resulting,  as  from  an 
accident.  An  accident  may  be  injurious,  and  in- 
juries painful ;  but  accidents  should  never  be  spoken 
of  as  painful. 

accord  should  not  be  used  for  give.  To  accord 
is  "to  render  or  concede  as  due  and  proper,  as 
honor  or  veneration;"  to  give  is  "to  bestow  as 
appropriate;    as   to    give    thanks,   praise,   or    wel- 


come." 


8 


accord  A   Desk-Book  ot 

adherence 

accord,  awaxd  :  The  first  of  these  words  implies 
a  spontaneous  bestowal  prompted  by  the  dictates  of 
the  heart  (Latin  cor,  cord-,  heart)  ;  the  concession  or 
grant  due  to  inherent  merit  that  cannot  be  denied. 
Award  is  colder  and  more  unimpassioned  and 
formal,  and  implies  a  grant  only  after  careful  ob- 
servation and  judgment.  You  accord  honor  where 
honor  is  individually  due,  but  award  a  medal  to 
a  victor  out  of  many  (actual  or  possible)  contest- 
ants. 

accord,  grant :  Privileges  may  be  either  accorded 
or  granted.  To  accord  is  to  concede  as  due  and 
proper ;  grant ;  bestow ;  allow  ;  to  grant  is  to  be- 
stow or  confer  ;  give,  as  a  concession  ;  allow.  Some 
writers  erroneously  restrict  the  meaning  of  accord  to 
**  agree  with ;  suit." 

acknowledgment :  Do  not  spell  this  word  achiowl- 
edgeme?it ;  preferably  it  is  acknowledgment — omit  "  e  '* 
after  the  "  g." 

acme.     Compare  climax. 

acoustic  (dz.),  acoustics  (;/.)  :  When  the  adjective 
is  used  the  verb  must  agree  in  number  v/ith  the 
noun  which  the  adjective  qualifies;  as,  "the  acoustic 
properties  of  this  theater  are  good."  But  the  noun 
though  plural  in  form  is  singular  in  construction  and 
always  takes  a  verb  in  the  singular  as,  "  acoustics  is 
a  branch  of  physics." 

acquaintance.     Compare  friend. 

4 


Errors  in   English  accord 

adherence 

acquiesce  :  Never  use  the  preposition  "  with " 
after  this  word.  You  acquiesce  in  an  arrange- 
ment. 

act,  action  :  Do  not  use  one  word  for  the  other. 
A  man  does  a  good  act  rather  than  a  good  action. 
An  act  is  accomplished  by  an  exercise  of  power, 
whereas  an  action  is  the  fact  of  exerting  such  power 
and  refers  to  the  i7iodus  opera?idi.  A  part}^  to  a  con- 
veyance signifies  his  exercise  of  power  by  the 
formula  "This  is  my  act  and  deed,"  but  the  course 
pursued,  the  procedure — the  fact  of  sale  and  pur- 
chase— may  be  referred  to  as  a  wise  action. 

adherence,  adhesion,  attachment :  These  terms 
are  no  longer  synonymous,  although  originally  so. 
Adherence  is  used  of  things  mental  or  spiritual,  as 
principles,  while  adhesion  is  applied  to  material 
things.  The  figurative  meaning  of  iz^/^^r^  appears  in 
adherence,  which  is  somewhat  synonymous  with  at- 
tachjfient  and  applies  to  mental  conditions  or  princi- 
ples. Adhesion  is  generally  reserved  for  physical 
attachment;  as,  ''an  adhesion  effected  by  glue," 
although  Dowden  in  his  "  Studies  in  Literature  " 
(p.  230,)  has  written  "  Browning's  courageous  ad- 
hesion to  truth  never  deserts  him."  Far  better 
is  Johnson's  "  Shakespeare's  adherence  to  general 
nature  has  exposed  him  to  the  censure  of  critics, 
who  form  their  judgments  upon  narrow-er  prin- 
ciples." 

5 


adjective  A    Desk-Book   of 

aggravate 

adjective  and  adverb  :  In  selecting  the  correcl 
word  to  use,  bear  in  mind  that  where  a  phrase  de- 
noting manner  can  be  substituted  an  adverb  is 
required ;  w^here  some  tense  of  the  verb  to  be  can  be 
used  the  adjective  is  necessary  ;  as,  ''The  surgeon 
felt  the  limb  carefully  and  found  that  one  of  th3 
bones  was  broken.^'' 

admission.     Compare  admittance. 

admit,  admit  of :  Very  different  in  meaning. 
"  This  gate  admits  (affords  entrance)  to  the  grounds, 
but  the  size  of  the  vehicle  will  not  admit  of  (allow 
or  permit)  its  passing  through."  Where  Emerson 
says  "  Every  action  adjnits  of  being  outdone,"  the 
simple  admit  could  not  be  substituted. 

admittance,  admission  :  These  words  are  not 
merely  synonymous.  Admitta?ice  refers  to  place, 
admission  refers  also  to  position,  privilege,  favor, 
friendship,  etc.  An  intruder  may  gain  admittance  to 
the  hall  of  a  society  who  would  not  be  allow^ed  ad- 
mission to  its  membership. 

adore  :  Often  misused  as  an  emphatic  for  "  like." 
One  may  ado7'e  that  which  one  reveres  or  venerates 
or  has  profound  regard  or  affection  for,  but  not  that 
which  is  pleasant  to  the  palate.  A  child  may  like 
cherries  and  adore  its  mother,  but  it  does  not  adore 
cherries  though  it  likes  its  mother. 

advantage,  benefit  :  Exercise  care  in  using  these 
words.     Advantage  is  that  which  gives  one  a  vantage- 

6 


Errors  In  English  adjective 

aggravate 
ground,  either  for  coping  with  competitors  or  with 
difficulties,  needs,  or  demands  ;  as,  "  to  have  the  ad- 
vantage oi  a  good  education."  It  is  frequently  used 
of  what  one  has  beyond  another  or  secures  at  the 
expense  of  another ;  as,  "  to  have  the  advantage  of 
another  in  an  argument,"  or  ''to  take  advantage  of 
another  in  a  bargain.  Benefit  is  anything  that  does 
one  good. 

adverbs  and  the  infinitive  "  to."  See  split  in- 
finitive. 

a  few.  Condemned  as  employing  the  singular  ar- 
ticle before  an  adjective  plural  in  sense.  Usage 
sanctions  a  himdred  and  a  great  many,  these  expres- 
sions being  viewed  as  collective.  A  few  is  correct 
idiomatic  English,  with  a  sense  distinctively  different 
from  that  of  the  adjective  used  alone ;  as,  ^'-  A  few 
men  can  be  trusted"  (/.  e.,  a  small  but  appreciable 
number).  "  Few  men  can  be  trusted  "  (/.  e.,  scarcely 
any)  is  practically  equivalent  to  the  negative  state- 
ment "  Most  men  are  not  to  be  trusted." 

afiect.     Compare  effect. 

against:  Never  shorten  this  preposition  mXo  again. 
Such  a  usage  is  either  dialectical  or  obsolete  ;  and 
save  in  such  usage  there  is  no  preposition  again,  or 
as  sometimes  spoken  by  persons  careless  with  their 
speech  agen. 

aggravate,  exasperate,  irritate,  provoke  :  A  fever 

or  a  misfortune  may  be  aggravated,  but  not  ?  person. 

7 


ago  A  Desk-Book  of 

all  of  them 

The  person  is,  perhaps,  exasperated  or  provoked.  To 
aggravate,  from  the  Latin  aggravo  "to  make  heavy," 
is  to  intensify,  and  applies  only  to  conditions  of 
fact ;  provoke,  which  calls  forth  anger,  and  exas- 
perate, which  heightens  (or  roughens)  anger  already 
provoked,  allude  to  mental  states.  A  patient  may 
be  so  irritated  that  his  condition  is  aggravated.  Here 
to  aggravate  is  to  make  worse  ;  to  irritate  is  to  annoy, 
provoke. 

ago.     Compare  since. 

agreeable  :  Do  not  spell  this  word  agreabk.  Its 
component  parts  are  agree  plus  able ;  always  double 
the  "  e  "  before  the  "  a."  Agreeable  is  often  errone- 
ously used  for  agreeably  in  correspondence.  In  this 
sense  it  is  a  commercial  colloquialism,  meaning 
"  being  in  accordance  or  conformity,"  as  with  some 
previous  action.  ''  Agreeable  to  your  request  I  have 
forwarded  the  goods."  Correctly,  this  should  be 
rendered  "  Agreeably  with  your  request,  etc.,"  mean 
ing  "so  as  to  be  agreeable." 

agreeably.     Compare  agreeable. 

aid.     Compare  help. 

ain't :  Avoid  as  inelegant.  In  such  a  phrase  as 
"  he  ain't,"  it  is  both  vulgar  and  ungrammatical ; 
"  he  isn't  "  is  the  preferred  form.  "  The  contraction 
ain't  for  isn't  is  a  vulgarism  which  ought  not  to 
need  criticism.  Yet  '  'tain't  so '  said  an  educated 
preacher  once  in  my  hearing.     The  safe  rule  re- 

8 


Errors  in  English  ago 

all  of  them 

specting  contractions  is  never  to  use  them  in  public 

speech.      This   is   the  instinct  of  a  perfect  taste." 

Austin  Phelps,  E?iglish  Style,  lecture  ii.  p.  25. 

alienate,  antagonize  :  Alienate  which  means  "  es« 
trange,"  should  never  be  used  for  antago?iize,  mean- 
ing "  contend  against  "  or  "  bring  into  opposition." 
Thus,  you  alietiate  your  friend  because  you  antagonize 
his  views. 

all.  See  under  any,  whole,  and  compare  uni- 
versally. 

allege  :  Do  not  spell  this  word  alledge.  It  has  no 
connection  whatever  witli  ledge,  a  shelf.  Allege  is 
derived  from  the  Latin  adlegio,  clear,  and  came  to 
England  with  the  Normans  in  the  Norman  French 
form  aligier,  Old  French,  esligier,  from  the  Latin,  ex, 
out,  and  litigo,  to  carry  strife.     It  means,  to  assert. 

alleviate,  relieve  :  Distinguished  from  relieve,  as 
alleviate,  by  lightening  (Latin  ad,  to,  +  levis,  light), 
mitigates  or  makes  less  burdensome,  and  relieve, 
by  removing  ( Latin  re,  again,  4-  levis,  lifting  up ), 
supplies  what  is  wanting. 

Allez'iation  affects  internal  sensations,  affording 
comparative  ease,  whereas  relief  operates  upon  ex- 
ternal conditions,  removing  pain.  You  alleviate  suf- 
fering and  relieve  distress  or  poverty. 

all  of  them :  This  phrase  furnishes  an  excellent 
example  of  the  common  carelessness  of  speech.  Of 
signifies  fro77i   or  frofn  out ;  and   whereas  one  can 

9 


all  over  A  Desk-Book  of 

almost 

subtract  a  certain  quantity  from  an  entire  num- 
ber,  one  can  hardly  refer  to  that  number  as  still  ex- 
isting, in  any  shape  whatever,  if  one  subtracts  the 
whole  ;  ior  from  out  implies  a  remainder.  You  may 
say  "  ship  sojne,  or  any  definite  number,  say  ten  of 
tJiem,^^  or  ''  ship  tJmn  all^^^  but  not  *'  ship  all  of  them." 

all  over  the  world  :  A  common  but  undesirable  lo- 
cution for  "  all  the  world  over "  or  "  over  all  the 
world." 

alloWj  permit  :  Discriminate  carefully  between 
these  words.  Allow  implies  no  attempt  at  hin- 
drance *,  per77iit  suggests  authorization  to  do.  One 
allows  that  to  which  one  interposes  no  objection  or 
takes  no  step  to  prevent ;  one  permits  that  to  which 
one  gives  express  consent  or  authorization.  In 
some  parts  of  the  United  States  allow  is  used  in  the 
sense  of  "  think,  think  likely,  intend  " ;  as,  "  he  allowed 
he  would  go  "  ;  *'  he  allowed  to  pay  it."  It  is  used 
also  in  the  sense  of  say.  Both  uses  are  wholly  in- 
admissible. 

all  right :  In  best  usage  this  term  is  always  written 
as  two  words.  Formerly  alright  was  in  vogue,  but 
it  is  now  obsolete. 

allude  :  This  word  is  frequently  used  as  synony- 
mous with  mention^  but  this  is  a  careless  and  im- 
proper treatment  of  the  term. 

"  Allude  is  in  danger  of  losing  its  peculiar  signification, 
which  is  delicate  and  serviceable  ....  (It)  means  to 

10 


Errors  in  English  all  over 

almost 
indicate  jocosely,  to  hint  at  playfully  ....  Allusion  is 
the  by-play  of  language." — R.  G.  White  Words  and 
Their  Uses,  ch.  5,  p.  90.  (S.  H.  &  Co.  '70) 

Allude  is  from  the  Latin  alludo,  treat  lightly,  from 
ad^  at,  and  ludo^  play,  and  should  be  used  only  with 
the  sense  of  "  to  refer  incidentally,  indirectly,  or  by 
suggestion."  When  you  toast  a  hero  by  name,  you 
certainly  do  not  allude  to  him,  although  in  so  doing 
you  make  a  prett}'  allusion  to  the  heroic  act  with 
which  his  name  is  identified.  In  toasting  Dewey, 
you  do  not  allude  to  him  but  to  his  deeds  off  Manila. 

allusion  :  Distinguish  between  this  word  and  illii- 
sio7t.  The  former  is  derived  from  the  Latin  ad,  at,  -f- 
ludo,  play  (treat  lightly),  and  means  an  incidental 
suggestion  or  passing  reference,  a  species  of  in- 
nuendo ;  the  latter  is  derived  from  i?i,  on,  +  ludOy 
play  (play  tricks  on),  and  means  an  unreal  image 
presented  to  the  senses. 

almost :  "  An  adjective  in  early  English,  the  use  of 
which  has  recently  been  revived,  but  it  has  not  re- 
ceived the  sanction  of  general  usage."  —  Standard 
Dictionary. 

An  "  almost  Christian  "  is,  however,  a  most  expres- 
sive term,  and  would  oftentimes  more  nearly  express 
the  truth  than  the  absolute  and  unqualified  "  Chris- 
tian."    Compare  most. 

almost,  about :  These  words  are  now  commonly 
used  as  interchangeable  synonyms.     Formerly,  such 

U 


already  A    Desk-Book   of 

araid 

use  was  condemned.  One  may  say  of  a  task  that  it 
is  "  almost  completed "  or  that  it  is  "  aboiU  com- 
pleted "  meaning  that  it  is  nearly  accomplished  or 
approaches  closely  to  a  completed  state. 

already  \  Although  this  word  consists  of  two  ele- 
ments "  all  *  and  "  ready,"  it  is  not  correctly  spelled 
with  two  "  I's  "  but  already. 

also,  likewise  :  According  to  some  wTiters  also 
merely  denotes  addition,  and  likciinse  denotes  con- 
nection  with  some  person  or  thing  that  has  pre- 
viously been  referred  to.  Likewise,  which  means 
"  in  like  manner,"  of  necessity  refers  to  states  and 
conditions  which  are  susceptible  of  manner,  and 
should  not  be  used  indiscriminately  for  also,  which 
properly  connects  facts  and  qualities.  There  is,  for 
example,  a  considerable  difference  between  the  ex- 
pressions "  He  spoke  also  "  and  "  He  spoke  likewise:' 
In  the  second  case,  the  matter  of  speech  may  be  con 
sidered  to  have  been  to  the  same  effect  as  the  speech 
first  alluded  to.  Lexicographers  do  not  recognize 
this  difference. 

In  practise,  the  choice  between  these  words  is 
largely  to  secure  euphony  and  avoid  repetition. 
Also  and  likewise  affirm  that  w^hat  is  added  is  like 
that  to  which  it  is  added.  —  Standard  Dictionary, 

P-59- 

alternative  :    "  This   word  means   a  choice — one 

choice — between  two  things.     Yet  popular  usage  has 


Errors  In   English  already 

amid 
so  corrupted  it,  that  it  is  now  commonly  applied  to 
the  things  themselves,  and  not  to  the  choice  between 
them,  as  '  You  may  take  either  alternative^^  '  I  was 
forced  to  choose  between  two  alternatives.^  And,  in- 
deed, some  people  go  so  far  as  to  say  *  several  alter' 
natives  were  presented  him.' " — E.  S.  Gould,  Good 
English,  Misused  Words,  p.  45. 

alwa-"",  all  ways  :  Discriminate  carefully  between 
these  terms.  Always  means  "  during  all  time  '  ; 
all  ways  means  "  in  every  way." 

amateur,  novice  :  These  terms  are  not  synonymous. 
The  distinction  between  them  is  that  an  ormafeur  TCi2iy 
be  the  equal  in  skill  of  a  professional,  but  a  novice  is 
a  beginner,  and  as  such  does  not  equal  the  profess- 
ional in  skill.  ^^ 

ambidextrous  :  Do  not  spell  this  word  "  aijibidex- 
terousy  It  is  derived  from  the  Latin  dextra,  the 
right  hand,  and  ous.  Although  the  form  a^nbidex- 
terous  was  common  in  England  in  the  nineteenth 
century,  it  is  not  now  in  use. 

ambition  should  not  be  used  to  signify  mild  energy 
as  it  imports  persistent  and  inordinate  or  steadfast 
desire.  "  The  heat  leaves  me  without  a??ibition  for 
work"  illustrates  an  altogether  wrong  use  of  the  word. 

amid,  among  :  Discriminate  carefully  between  these 
words.  Amid  denotes  position  when  one  object  is 
surrounded  by  others  from  which  it  differs  in  nature 
or  characteristics ;  a??iong  denotes  an  intermingling 

13 


among  A  Desk-Book  of 

answer 

of  objects  of  the  same  nature.  A  man  may  be  amid, 
enemies  but  not  amofig  them  ;  he  may  be  among 
friends  but  not  amid  them. 

among,  between  :  Among  may  apply  to  any  num- 
ber ;  behvecn  applies  to  two  only. 

among  one  another:  A  pleonasm.  Say,  rather, 
"  a77io?ig  the7?iselvesy 

among  the  rest :  Say  "  among  thei7i  was  he,"  or 
"  with  tJie  rest  was  he  " — not  amo7ig  the  rest.  As  *'  the 
rest "  specifically  excludes  himself,  it  is  impossible 
for  him  to  figure  in  the  midst  of  them. 

amount,  number  :  Amou7it  is  used  of  substances 
in  mass;  nu77iber  refers  to  the  individuals  of  which 
such  mass  is  constituted. 

an:  Modern  practice  does  not  permit  of  the  use 
of  an  before  words  beginning  with  an  aspirated  "  h  " 
as,  "  hair,"  ''  hall,"  "  harangue,"  "  hero,"  '*  history," 
"historical,"  ''historian,"  "house,"  "hypothesis," 
"  heraldic,"  etc.  However,  it  may  be  correctly  used 
before  words  in  which  the  initial  "  h  "  is  not  aspi- 
rated.    Compare  a,  an. 

ancient,  antiquated  :  Anything  a7itiquated  is  a7icieni 
but  not  all  things  that  are  a7ide7it  are  a7itiqiiaied ;  thus 
a7icie7it  refers  to  things  that  existed  in  oiden  times  ; 
a7itiquated  to  things  obsolete  or  that  have  fallen  be 
hind  the  times. 

and,  (the  relative  preceded  by)  :  Where  "  and  "  is 
used  to  connect  two  clauses  the  clauses  must  be  oi 

14 


Errors  in  English  among 

answer 
similar  construction.  Therefore,  do  not  say,  "  I  met 
Florence  on  Wednesday,  and  which  was  very  pleas- 
ing to  me,"  which  is  not  only  grammatically  in- 
correct, but  is  faulty  in  that  it  introduces  an  alto- 
gether useless  word.     Omit  the  ''  and." 

and,  to  :  These  terms  are  not  interchangeable. 
One  does  not  "  try  and  do  a  task,"  but  "  one  tries 
toAo  it." 

anger.     Compare  temper. 

angry.     Compare  mad. 

angry  at,  with  :  A  man  may  be  angry  at  or  about 
a  hurt,  never  with  it ;  he  is  angry  a/i  rather  than 
with  a  dog.     We  may  be  angry  with  a  person. 

annoyed  at,  by,  with  :  Note  the  correct  use  of 
the  prepositions.  "  He  will  be  annoyed  at  or  by 
complaints  "  (if  they  are  made)  ;  *'  He  will  be  an- 
noyed with  complaints  "  (because  they  will  surely  be 
made). 

another  from  :  ^Misused  for  another  than  ;  as,  "judges 
of  quite  another  stamp  from  his  Majest}''s  judges  of 
Assize,"  for  "of  quite  ariotJur  stamp  than,^^  etc. 

another  such :  These  words  should  be  used 
always  in  this  order.  Avoid  "  suih  another  mis- 
take," as  incorrect ;  "  another  such  mistake  "  is 
better. 

answei,  reply :  Discriminate  carefully  between 
these  words.  The  Standard  Dictionary',  quoting 
Crabb   says,  "  an  answer  is  made  to  a  question ;  a 

15 


antagonize         A    Desk-Book   of 
any  place 

reply  is  made  to  an  assertion  ; "  but,  it  continues, 
"  this  statement  is  too  limited,  as  an  answer  vs,  made 
to  a  charge  as  well  as  to  a  question.  ...  A  7'eply 
is  an  unfolding,  and  implies  both  thought  and  intel- 
ligence. Reply  implies  the  formal  dissection  of  a 
statement  previously  made ;  answer,  a  ready  return 
of  words  to  a  question  or  charge  that  is  made." 

antagonize,  veto,  oppose,  forbid :  Antagonize  is 
distinguished  from  veto  or  oppose.  In  the  sense  of 
"  neutralize  "  or  "  deprive  of  active  power  "  you 
may  antagonize  a  disease,  while  you  oppose  or  veto  a 
bill.  To  forbid  is  to  prohibit  with  authority  ;  to  veto 
is  to  forbid  authoritatively,  with  or  without  the  right 
to  do  so.     Compare  alienate. 

ante-,  anti-:  Discriminate  carefully  between  these 
prefixes.  Afite-  means  "before  ;  "  ajiti-  means  "  op- 
posite to."  ^;?/^diluvian  means  "  before  the  flood  "  ; 
A?itic\u:ist  means  "opposed  to  Christ." 

anticipate,  expect,  hope  :  As  anticipate  implies 
"expectation  with  confidence  and  pleasure,"  never 
use  it  where  mere  expectation  is  meant,  which  ap- 
plies to  that  which  we  have  good  reason  to  believe 
will  happen.  "  I  hope  for  a  visit  from  my  friend, 
though  I  have  no  word  from  him  ;  I  expect  it,  when 
he  writes  that  he  is  coming ;  and  as  the  time  draws 
near  I  anticipate  it,"  for  I  look  forward  to  it  with  con- 
fidence and  pleasure. 

antiquated.     Compare  ancient. 

16 


Errors  in   English       antagonize 

any  place 

any,  all,  at  all :  Avoid  using  a7iy  adverbially  in 
place  of  the  adjective.  Don't  say  "  Did  you  sleep 
any ?  "  when  you  mean  "Did  you  have  a?ty  sleep ?  " 
or  "  Did  you  sleep  at  all?" 

Since  any  individualizes  or  separates,  signifying 
one  or  some  out  of  a  certain  quantity  or  number, 
and  thus  differentiating  from  the  whole  or  entire 
quantity  or  number,  the  word  should  not  be  used 
interchangeably  with  all.  "  He  is  the  finest  fel- 
low of  all"  (not  of  a?iy=oi  a7iy  07ie  fellow)  I  have 
known." 

any,  either  :  Any  is  used  of  more  than  two ;  either 
of  two  only.  Do  not  say  "  the  United  States  or 
utlier  of  them,"  say,  rather,  '■'■any  of  them." 

anyhow,  anyway :  "  Forcible  colloquial  expres- 
sions often  used  to  indicate  that  something  is  to  be 
done,  admitted,  believed,  or  the  like,  be  the  circum- 
stances, results  or  conditions  what  they  may ;  as 
*  Anyhow^  I  have  lost  it ;  '  '  anyway^  I  am  going.' 
In  place  of  these,  such  expressions  as  *  In  any 
event,'  '  At  any  rate,'  '  Be  that  as  it  may  '  are  ordi- 
aarily  preferred." — Standard  Dictionary. 

any  place,  some  place  :  "  He  won't  go  ajiy  place  \  " 
"  I  want  to  go  some  place"  Say,  rather,  "  He  won't 
go  anywhere  ;  "  "I  want  to  go  sojjiewhere"  These 
are  solecisms,  unfortunately  common,  which  should 
be  avoided.  "  Place  "  may  be  used  as  an  indirect 
c)bject  only  when  preceded  by  a  preposition. 

17 


anyway  A    Desk-Book    of 

articles 

anyway,  anywhere  :  Frequently  misspelled  any- 
7vays,  anywheres.  These  words  should  never  be 
written  with  a  final  s. 

apostasy  :  In  modern  usage  the  last  syllable  is 
spelled  with  an  s.  The  alternative  spelling,  apostasy, 
though  occasionally  used,    is  not  preferred. 

apparent,  evident,  manifest  :  Do  not  confound  ap- 
pareti:  with  evident^  because  what  is  apparent  may 
or  may  not  be  evidejtf.  That  is  appare?it  which  ap- 
pears to  be,  as  apparent  sincerity  ;  but  appearances 
may  be  false.  Things  are  not  always  what  they 
seem.  "  That  is  evident  of  which  the  mind  is  made 
sure  by  some  inference  that  supplements  the  fact 
of  perception.  That  is  manifest  which  we  can  lay 
the  hand  upon  :  matiifest  is  thus  stronger  than  evi- 
dent,  as  touch  is  more  absolute  than  sight."     See 

HEIR. 

appear,  seem :  Discriminate  carefully  between 
these  words.  Appear  refers  to  that  which  manifests 
itself  to  the  senses ;  see^n  applies  to  that  which  is 
manifest  to  the  mind  on  reflection.  Seem  gives  or 
creates  the  impression  of  being.  A  man  may  seem 
honest  but  cannot  appear  so. 

appreciate  :  This  verb  has  the  intransitive  sense 
of  "to  increase  in  value,"  despite  the  fact  that  some 
critics  (though  without  justifiable  cause)  object  to 
its  use  in  such  a  phrase  as  "  real  estate  appreciates 

<is  the  city  grows." 

18 


Errors  in  English  anyway 

articles 

apprehend,  comprehend  :  These  terms  are  neither 
synonymous  nor  interchangeable.  To  apprehend  is 
to  perceive  ;  to  coinprehend  is  to  understand. 

approach  :  Sometimes  incorrectly  used  for  address^ 
petition^  etc.  One  is  approached  by  indirect  or  covert 
intimation,  suggestion,  or  question,  which  he  may 
encourage  if  he  ^Yill,  or  may  put  aside  without  for- 
mal refusal.  Approach  is  often  used  in  a  bad  sense, 
implying  the  use  of  bribery  or  intrigue.  Do  not 
say  "  the  teachers  have  approached  the  Educational 
Department  for  longer  intermissions,"  when  you 
mean  "the  teachers  \i2LYQ petitioned,'*^  etc. 

apt,  likely  :  Words  sometimes  misapplied.  Apt 
implies  natural  fitness  or  tendency ;  likely  applies  to 
a  contingent  event  considered  as  very  probable. 

aren't :  For  are  not  when  the  subject  follows ;  as, 
"  Aren't  you  ?  "  "  Aren't  they  ?  "  The  best  con- 
versational usage  contracts  the  verb  when  the  sub- 
ject precedes  :  "we're  not,"'  "you're  not,"  etc.  Sim- 
ilarly we  say  "  I'm  not,"  "  I'll  not." 

argue.     Compare  augur. 

arraign  at,  before,  for,  on,  after  :  "  The  criminal 
was  arraigned  at  the  court  "  is  incorrect ;  a  criminal 
is  arraigned  at  the  bar ;  before  the  court ;  for  a 
crime ;  on  an  indictment ;  after  the  discovery  of  his 
crime. 

articles  :  Two  or  more  words  connected  by  and 
referring  to  different  things  should  each  be  preceded 

19 


as  ...  as       A  Desk-Book  of 
as  far  as 

by  the  article  ;  but  when  they  denote  the  same  thing, 
the  article  is  commonly  used  with  the  first  only. 
*'  The  black-and-white  horse  "would  denote  one  horse 
marked  with  the  two  colors  black  and  white.  "  The 
black  and  the  white  horse  "would  denote  two  horses> 
one  black  and  the  other  white. 

as  .  .  .  as,  so  .  .  .  as.  The  Standard  Diction- 
ary says  :  A  shade  of  difference  in  their  meanings, 
as  strictly  used  in  comparisons,  is  often  neglected. 
So  .  ,  .  as  suggests  that,  in  the  comparison  of  the 
persons  or  things  mentioned,  there  is  present  in  the 
mind  of  the  speaker  a  consciousness  of  a  considerable 
degree  of  the  quality  considered  \  as  ,  .  ,  as  docL 
not  carry  this  impression.  In  *'  John  is  not  as 
tall  as  James  "  there  is  no  implication  that  the  speaker 
regards  either  John  or  James  as  tall ;  there  is  merely 
a  comparison  of  their  heights.  So,  too,  in  "  John  is 
not  as  old  as  James  "  there  is  merely  a  comparison 
of  ages.  But  if  one  says,  "  John  is  not  so  tall  as 
James,"  though  the  so  is  not  emphasized,  there  is 
understood  usually  to  be  a  reference  more  or  less 
distinct  to  something  uncommon  in  the  height  of 
James  as  compared  with  the  stature  of  other  men  or 
of  other  boys  of  his  age  ;  the  speaker  regards  James 
as  being  fa//.  "  John  is  not  so  old  as  James  "  sug- 
gests that,  in  some  relation  or  other,  James  is  thought 
of  as  being  o/d ;  as  in  "James  is  taller  than  John." 
"  Yes,  but  my  boy  is  not  so  o/d  as  yours." 

20 


Errors  in  English      as  ...  as 

as  far  as 

In  affirmative  sentences  so  .  ,  .  as  can  not  properly 
be  used  except  in  certain  restricted  constructions, 
and  where  the  quaUty  referred  to  is  to  be  empha- 
sized. It  occurs  oftenest  in  sentences  that,  though 
affirmative  in  form,  carry  a  negative  suggestion ;  as, 
"  So  good  a  cook  as  Polly  is  hard  to  find,"  that  is, 
"It  is  not  easy  to  find  so  good  a  cook  as  Polly. 

Few  knights  of  the  shire  [in  the  17th  century']  had 
libraries  so  good  as  may  now  perpetually  be  found  in  a 
serv^ants'  hall. 

Macaulay,  History,  ch.  3. 
That  is,  "not  many  knights  of  the  shire,"  etc.  In 
a  sim.ple  affirmative  comparison  like  "  Jane  is  as 
good  a  cook  as  Polly,"  so  .  ,  .  as  is  not  used. 

In  interrogative  sentences,  as  in  negative  sentences, 
a  consciousness  more  or  less  distinct  of  a  consider- 
able degree  of  the  quality  referred  to  is  conveyed  by 
so  .  ,  .  as,  but  not  by  as  ..  .  as.  "  Is  John  as  old 
as  James  ?  "  and  "  Is  your  uncle  x^old  as  my  father  ?  " 
convey  different  impressions  as  to  what  the  speaker 
means  by  o^d.  In  the  question  where  as  .»,  as  is 
used  there  is  no  implication  of  considerable  age  in  o/d. 

as  far  as,  so  far  as  :  Discriminate  carefully  be- 
tween these  terms.  As  far  as  expresses  distance  ; 
so  far  as  expresses  limitation,  as  of  one's  knowledge. 
Therefore,  "  so  far  as  I  know  "  is  preferaVjle  to  "  tfj 
jar  as  I  know." 

as  if.     Compare  like. 

21 


as,  so  A   Desk-Book  of 

at  lengtli 

as,  so  :  Discriminate  between  these  words ;  as  is 
used  in  comparing  persons  or  things  of  approximate 
caUber  or  size  ;  so  when  the  comparison  is  unequal. 

as,  that :  Discriminate  carefully  between  these 
words.  As  is  often  improperly  used  for  that.  Do 
not  say  "  not  as  I  know  of  "  ;  "  I  do  not  know  as  I 
shall  go."  Say,  rather,  "  Not  that  I  know  of  "  ;  "I 
do  not  know  that  I  shall  go." 

ascent  must  be  distinguished  from  assent,  its  hom- 
onym. The  former  is  derived  from  Latin  ad,  to,  + 
scando,  climb,  and  means  the  act  of  climbing ;  the 
latter  is  from  Latin  ad,  to,  +  sentio,  feel,  and  means 
expression  of  concurrence  in  a  proposition,  acquies- 
cence. 

aside;  An  Americanism  for  apart.  Not  "  auxiliary 
words  aside,''*  but  "  auxiliary  words  apart."** 

asparagus.     Compare  sparrow  grass. 

assent.     Compare  ascent. 

assume,  perform,  discharge  :  We  assume  responsi- 
bilities to  perform  a  task  and  thus  discharge  our  duty. 
Duties  are  not  performed. 

astonish,  surprise  :  Terms  which  some  writers 
claim  are  not  synonymous  or  interchangeable,  but 
usage  has  made  them  so.  To  astofiish  is  "to  affect 
with  wonder  and  surprise''* ;  to  surprise  is  "to  strike 
with  astonishment  by  some  unexpected  act  or  event." 

Obviously,  when  one  says,  "  I  am  surprised,"  he 
uses   an   expression    exactly  equivalent   to  "  I  am 

^2 


Errors  In  English  as,  so 

at  length 
struck  with  astonishment,"  which  is  the  equivalent 
of  '*  I  am  astonished." 

at  :  Commonly  but  erroneously  used  for  to,  as  an 
intensive  in  such  phrases  as  "  Where  have  you  been 
att  "  "  Where  are  you  going  atl  "  Used  also  occa- 
sionally to  denote  place :  as,  "  Where  does  he  live 
atV  Wherever  used  in  such  connections  the  word 
is  redundant. 

at  all :  These  words,  supposed  to  have  an  inten- 
sive effect,  are  frequently  unnecessarily  introduced. 
"  It  doesn't  rain  at  all,''^  would  be  just  as  expressive 
if  written  "  It  doesn't  rain." 

at  auction  :  In  England  this  expression  is  kno^^Tl 
as  an  Americanism.  There,  goods  are  put  up  to 
auction  and  are  sold  by  it — that  is  by  offering  them 
to  the  highest  bidder.  "  At  private  sale  "  also  is 
peculiar  to  America. 

at  best :  An  erroneous  form  for  "  at  the  best." 

at,  in  :  Always  ?>/  a  country ;  either  at  or  in  a  city, 
town,  or  village;  at,  if  the  place  is  regarded  as  a 
point ;  i?i.  if  it  is  inclusive ;  as,  "  We  arrived  at 
Paris;  "  '•  He  lives  i7i  London." 

at  length:  The  assumption  that  ai  length  means 
the  same  as  at  last,  and  is  therefore  superfluous,  is 
an  error.  Both  at  length  and  at  last  presuppose  long 
wa  iting ;  but  at  last  views  what  comes  after  the  wait- 
ing as  a  finality ;  at  length  views  it  as  intermediate 
with  reference  to  action  or  state  that  continues,  or 

23 


at  that  A  Desk-Book  of 

avocation 

to  results  that  are  yet  to  follow ;  as,  "  I  have  invi- 
ted him  often,  and  at  length  he  is  coming  "  ;  "I  have 
invited  him  often,  and  at  last  he  has  come." 

At  length  is  used  also  of  space  ;  as,  *'  He  wrote 
me  at  length  "  (that  is,  fully  or  in  detail).  At  last  \s 
used  of  time  ;  as,  "  He  came  back  at  last^ 

at  that :  A  vulgarism  of  speech,  sometimes  de- 
fended on  the  ground  that  the  phrase  is  elliptical, 
the  omitted  word  or  phrase  being  computation, 
showing,  or  feature  of  the  case.  Avoid  the  usage, 
however. 

at  you  :  As  a  substitute  for  with  you  this  is  an 
unpardonable  vulgarism,  as  in  the  sentence  ''  I  am 
angry  at  (for  with)  you." 

audience,  spectator  :  An  audiejtce  is  a  number  of 
persons  assembled  to  listen  to  a  play,  lecture,  de- 
bate, etc. ;  a  spectator  is  an  eye-witness  as  of  a  pa- 
geant, panorama,  etc. 

aught,  ought  :  The  former  means  anything  what- 
ever, any  (even  the  smallest)  part ;  the  latter,  as  a 
noun,  is  a  corruption  of  naught,  a  cipher.  Naught 
is  of  course  not  aught,  that  is,  not  anything,  thus 
nothing,  and  hence  the  figure  0,  a  cipher.  Careful 
speakers  do  not  replace  this  word  by  ought. 

augur  :  With  the  sense  of  betoken  or  porte?id,  this 
word  must  not  be  confounded  with  argue.  The  race- 
course may  augur,  but  certainly  does  not  argue  pov- 
erty. 

24 


Errors  in  English  at  that 

avocation 

authentic,  authoritative,  genuine  :  Often  misused 
as  synonymous  terms.  That  which  accords  with 
the  facts  and  comes  from  the  source  alleged  is  an- 
thetitic ;  that  which  has  the  character  represented 
and  is  true  to  its  own  claims  is  genui?ie  ;  that  which 
possesses  or  emanates  from  proper  authority  and  is 
entitled  to  acceptance  as  such  is  authoritative. 

Trench  in  *'  On  the  Study  of  Words"  (p.  189), 
says:  "  A genui?te  work  is  one  written  by  the  author 
whose  name  it  bears;  an  aiithe?itic  ^ox\.\^  one  which 
relates  truthfully  the  matters  of  w^hich  it  treats." 
And  an  authoritative  work  is  one  which  contains  the 
results  of  the  observations  and  conclusions  of  an  au- 
thor of  special  ability  in  subjects  of  which  he  is  an 
acknowledged  master. 

auxihary  :  In  this  word  the  letter  "/"  is  never 
doubled. 

avails  :  An  Americanism  for  profits  or  proceeds. 

averse  from,  averse  to  :  Originally  averse  from 
was  commonly  used  to  designate  the  turning  from  a 
subject,  as  from  repugnance.  Present  usage  prefers 
averse  to^  denoting  aversion  in  the  sense  of  hostility 
toward  the  subject. 

avocation,  vocation  :  Discriminate  carefully  be- 
tween these  words.  An  avocatiofi  is  that  which 
takes  one  from  his  regular  calling.  It  is  a  minor 
or  irregular  occupation.  The  term  is  used  loosely, 
sometimes  by  good  writers,  for  vocation^  which  signi- 

25 


award  A  Desk-Book  of 

bad  grammar 

fies  the  main  calling  or  business  of  life.     An  avoca^ 

tion  is  a  diversion. 

award.     Compare  accord. 

aware.     Compare  conscious. 

awful,  awfully  :  Aivful  should  not  be  used  of  things 
which  are  merely  disagreeable  or  annoying,  nor  in 
the  sense  of  excessive,  exceedingly  bad,  great,  or  the 
like.  It  is  sometimes  incorrectly  used  to  designate 
surprise  or  distress,  as,  an  awful  mouth,  that  is,  a 
mouth  of  surprising  size.  Do  not  say  "  He  created 
an  awful  scene,"  when  you  mean  that  the  scene  he 
created  was  distressing.  Things  cannot  be  "  owfully 
nice  "  nor  persons  "  awfully  jolly,"  notwithstanding 
the  sanction  of  colloquial  usage.  Phelps  relates  the 
following :  "  Two  travelers  at  Rome  once  criticized 
Michael  Angelo's  statue  of  Moses.  '  Is  it  not  aw- 
ful?  '  said  one.  *  Yes,*  answered  the  other,  *  it  is 
subBjic'  *  No,  no ! '  rejoined  the  other,  *  I  meant 
awfully  ugly  1'  "     That  is  awful  only  which  inspires 

awe. 

aye,  ay  :  Meaning  always,  ever,  and  pronounced 
e  (e,  as  in  eight),  is  to  be  distinguished  from  aye, 
meaning  yes,  and  pronounced  ai  (  ai,  as  in  aisle  ). 

B 

back  on,  go.     Compare  go. 

back  or  back  up,  with  the  signification  of  uphold 
or  support  has  the  countenance  of  high  authority,  but  . 

26 


Errors  in   English  award 

bad  grammar 

is  still,   except  in  the   sporting  sense,   regarded  as 

savoring  of  slang. 

back  down:  A  colloquialism  for  withdr-aw  as  from 
an  argument,  a  position^  or  contest. 

back  out:  A  colloquialism  for  to  withdraw  from  or 
refuse  to  carry  out  an  agreement. 

back  talk :  A  vulgarism  for  any  impertinent  reply ; 
as,  "Don't  give  me  any  hack  talk."  Persons  of  re- 
finement say,  "Don't  be  impertinent,"  or,  "stop  your 
impertinence." 

bad:  This  word  is  the  antithesis  of  good  and  em- 
braces various  degrees  of  wickedness  or  evil  as  well 
as  those  of  unsatisfactoriness.  Bad  is  a  term  often 
misapplied.  One  may  say  "a  had  boy,"  "a  had 
tgg,"  but  not  a  ''had  accident" ;  say  rather,  "a  serious 
accident."  In  referring  to  things  which  are  neces- 
sarily hadj  or  the  reverse  of  good,  select  some  less 
pleonastic  adjective.  An  acute,  a  severe  or  gnaw- 
ing pain  would  be  preferable  expressions  to  a  had 
pain. 

bad  egg:  An  undesirable  expression  used  collo- 
quially to  designate  a  worthless  person:  not  used  in 
polite  society. 

bad  grammar:  This  phrase  has  been  condemned 
as  false  syntax  by  some  persons  unfamiliar  with  the 
different  meanings  of  the  word  had.  The  phrase  is 
not  only  good  English  but  is  cited  by  the  Standard 
PiCTiONARY  as  a  correct  example  under  the  word 

27 


badly  A  Desk-Book  of 

battalion 

bad  to  illustrate  the  meaning  "  containing  errors  oi 

faults;  incorrect;  as  bad  grammar.''^ 

badly  :  This  word  should  never  be  used  ior  greatly 
or  for  exceedingly^  very  much,  etc.  Do  not  say  "  Your 
father  will  miss  you  badly  " ;  say  rather,  "...  will 
miss  you  greatly."  Instead  of  "  I  wanted  that  badly'' 
say  "  I  wanted  that  very  much  "  or  "I  was  in  great 
need  of  that."  *'  The  carpet  needs  to  be  beaten 
badly  "  is  a  ludicrous  blunder  for  "  The  carpet  badly 
(or  very  much)  needs  to  be  beaten  " — the  construc- 
tion connecting  badly  with  beating  rather  than  with 
needs  which  it  qualifies. 

balance,  remainder :  These  terms  are  not  synony- 
mous. A  bookkeeper  obtains  a  bala7ice  as  by  addition 
or  subtraction.  A  mathematician  deducts  a  smaller 
sum  from  a  greater  and  obtains  a  re77tainder.  Do 
not  say  "  The  balance  of  the  evening  was  devoted  to 
music,"  but  "the  rest  of  the  evening.  .  ." 

ball  up  (to),  is  slang  for  "  confuse,"  "embarrass" 
either  of  which  is  to  be  preferred. 

baluster  :  Compare  banister. 

band,  beat  the.  Compare  beat. 

banister  is  a  corrupt  form  of  baluster\Nh.ich.  is  one  of 
the  individual  pillars  which  unite  to  form  a  balustrade. 

banquet :  This  word  designating  a  sumptuous 
feast  in  honor  of  some  person  or  event  should  not 
be  used  as  the  synonym  of  "  dinner  "  or  "  supper," 
which  both  designate  less  formal  functions. 

§3 


Errors  in  English  badly 

battalion 

bare  in  the  sense  of  uncover  must  be  differentiated 
from  its  homonym  bear^  to  suffer  or  endure. 

base,  bass  :  Discriminate  carefully  between  these 
terms.  Base  means  the  bottom  or  support  of  any- 
thing, that  part  on  which  it  rests  ;  also,  that  which  is 
low.  Base  is  sometimes  used  in  the  sense  oifotmd; 
as,  "  he  based  his  argument  on  the  evidence."  In 
chemistry  it  is  a  compound  which  unites  with  acid  to 
form  a  salt.  Bass  is  the  name  of  various  sea-fishes ; 
also  the  name  of  a  tree  and  of  things  made  from  its 
fiber.  In  m.usic  the  bass  consists  of  the  lowest  tones 
in  the  scale,  instrumental  or  vocal. 

bat :  Formerly  a  provincialism  but  now  a  vulgar- 
ism for  "■  wink."  Do  not  say  "  Quit  batting  your 
eyes  at  me  ; "  say  rather,  that  is,  if  you  must  say 
anything  of  the  kind,  "  Stop  winking  at  me." 

bathos  and  pathos  are  sometimes  separated  by 
only  a  fine  line,  and  it  may  be  rather  a  matter  of  in- 
telligence than  of  philolog}^  that  fails  to  make  use  of 
the  desirable  term.  Pathos  is  from  the  GxQtk  pascho, 
suffer,  and  designates  the  quality  that  awakens  the 
tender  emotions,  as  compassion  or  sympathy ;  bathos 
h  from  the  Greek  bathys,  deep,  and  signifies  a  ridic- 
ulous descent. from  the  lofty  to  the  depths  of  com- 
monplace. 

battalion :  In  this  word  the  "t"  is  always  doubled, 
as  in  battle,  from  which  it  is  derived ;  it  is,  however, 
correctly  spelled  with  only  one  "1." 

29 


bear  A  Desk-Book  of 

being 

bear.     See  bare. 

beastly  :  A  British  colloquialism  expressive  of  dis* 
gust  or  contempt ;  as,  "  This  is  beastly  weather " ; 
sometimes  even  used  adverbially ;  as,  "  I  was  beastly 
tired."  This  locution,  essentially  in  bad  taste, 
though  often  affected  by  college  students  and  others 
who  should  know  better,  seems  never  to  be  defensi- 
ble except  in  the  phrase  ''beastly  drunk,"  and  even 
this  is  objectionable  as  being  a  libel  on  the  beast. 
Compare  nasty. 

beat  should  not  be  used  for  "  defeat." 

beat  it  should  not  be  used  for  "go  away"  or 
"  clear  out." 

beat  the  band  :  A  vulgarism  for  "  to  surpass  or  be 
immeasurably  superior  to." 

because  ••  Although  this  word  means  "  for  the  rea- 
son "  it  is  often  used  in  the  same  sentence  with  this 
expression — "  The  reason  why  I  do  this  is  because 
(=for  the  reason  that)  I  please  myself  by  doing  it." 
Substitute  that  for  because. 

because  why  :  A  term  common  among  the  illiter- 
ate. Because  is  used  correctly  when  it  precedes  the 
explanation  of  an  act;  why,  when  used  interroga- 
tively. Do  not  say  "  I  did  it,  because  why  " ;  here 
omit  "  why  "  and  continue  with  the  reason  for  the 
act.  Instead  of  "  I  did  not  come  sooner ;  because 
why}'''  "I  was  delayed."  Say  "I  did  not  come 
sooner;  why?     I  was  delayed." 

§0 


Errors  In   English  t)ear 

being 

beef  is  coarse  slang  for  *' boast"  or  "brag." 

begin  :  Commence  is  frequently  substituted  for  be- 
^m  work  where  the  change  should  not  be  made. 
Begifi  is  applied  to  order  of  time ;  cottimence  relates 
to  the  work  on  hand  with  reference  to  its  subsequent 
completion.  The  man  who  strikes  the  first  blow 
begins  a  fight,  but  both  parties  to  a  law  suit  commence 
litigation  at  the  moment  when  they  severally  under- 
take the  first  step. 

begin  by  him  :  This  is  incorrect ;  say,  "  begin  with 
him." 

behave  :  Strictly  means  "  comport."  When  used 
with  a  reflexive  pronoun  as,  "Behave  yourself,"  this 
word  is  correctly  applied.  Waen  the  pronoun  is 
omitted  as,  ''Will  you  behave?''  the  sentence  is  in- 
complete and  the  expression  a  mere  colloquialism. 

being  :  The  phrases '' is  being  built,"  "was  being 
built,"  and  kindred  forms  of  English  imperfects 
passive  are  condemned  by  certain  critics  as  recent 
and  unwarranted ;  Fitzedward  Hall  points  out  that 
they  are  neither  recent  nor  unwarranted,  and  have 
been  used  by  the  best  writers  for  a  century.  He 
says  :  "  Prior  to  the  evolution  of  is  bei?ig  built  and  was 
being  built,  we  possessed  no  discriminate  equivalents 
of  cedificatur  and  cedificabatur ;  is  built  and  was  built, 
by  which  they  were  rendered,  corresponding  exactly 
to  cedificatus  est  and  cedificatus  er at  .''—Modern  English, 

App.,  p.  350. 

31 


belong  A  Desk-Book  of 

beside,  besides 

Is  growings  was  groumig,  indicate  an  activity  from 
within ;  as,  the  tree  is  growing  (  from  its  own  internal 
forces)  ;  is  being  grown,  was  bei?ig  grown,  the  activity 
of  some  agent  from  without ;  as,  the  plant  is  being 
grown  (by  the  gardener).  So  also,  and  strikingly,  is 
bleeding  (  as  from  a  wound  ),  and  is  being  bled  (  as  by  a 
surgeon  ). 

belong  :  Used  absolutely ;  as,  "  He  doesn't  be 
long,''^  "We  all  belong^''  (^sc,  to  this  organization 
society,  community,  or  in  the  place,  sphere,  or  as- 
sociations where  actually  present)  :  recent  in  th'* 
United  States,  and  apparently  rapidly  sprea<?ing  m 
popular  use,  though  with  no  literary  support. 

beneficence,  benevolence  :  Although  formerly  the 
meanings  of  these  words  were  distinct  they  are  not 
so  any  longer,  and  benevolence  now  includes  beneficence. 
^^Beneficence,  the  quality  of  being  beneficent  or  char- 
itable :  benevolence  is  the  disposition  to  seek  the  well- 
being  or  comfort  of  others  ;  charitableness.  "  Ac- 
cording to  the  etymology  and  original  usage  be?ufi- 
ce7ice  is  the  doing  w^ell,  benevolence,  the  wishing  or 
willing  well  to  others  ;  but  benevolence  has  come  to 
include  beneficence  and  to  displace  it.  We  should  not 
now  speak  of  benevole?ice  which  did  not  help. 

benefit.     Compare  advantage. 

bequest,  devise,  legacy :  These  words  are  not  ex-  - 
actly  synonymous.     A  bequest  is  a  leaving  by  will  of 
personal  property  of  any  kind ;  a  devise  is  a  gift  of 

32 


Errors  in  English  belong 

beside 
land  by  a  last  will  and  testament ;  a  legacy  is  personal 
property  bequeathed.  Dez'ise  is  sometimes  used 
loosely  for  any  testamentary  disposition  of  property 
but,  applied  strictly,  refers  specifically  to  land,  where- 
as legacy  applies  to  any  kind  of  personal  property. 

berth,  birth :  Discriminate  carefully  between  these 
words.  Berth,  which  is  probably  derived  from  bear^ 
(Anglo-Saxon  beran,  carry),  means  a  place  of  accom- 
modation, whether  as  bunk  or  bed,  apartment,  or  en- 
gagement. Birth,  similarly  pronounced  and  derived, 
means  "  a  coming  into  existence.  " 

beside,  besides  :  Much  confusion  exists,  and  has 
long  existed  regarding  these  words.  Gould,  who  in 
his  work  on  '^  Good  English  "  explained  the  use  of 
these  terms  in  1856,  from  which  Webster  borrowed 
in  1876,  states  that  "besides  is  always  a  preposition 
and  only  a  preposition.  "  This  is  not  so.  It  is 
som.etimes  an  adverb  when  used  in  its  prepositional 
sense  of  "by  the  side  (of).'* 

Of  besides  as  a  preposition,  Skeat,  in  his  "  Ety- 
mological Dictionary,"  says: — "The  more  correct 
form  is  beside;  'besides'  is  a  later  development, 
due  to  the  habit  of  using  the  suffix  -es  to  form  ad- 
verbs ;  the  use  of  besides  as  a  preposition,  is,  strictly 
incorrect,  but  is  as  old  as  the  T2th  century." 

Beside  is  also  a  preposition  in  the  sense  of  "  in  com- 
parison with  "  and  "  physically  or  mentally  remote 
from.  "     "  Beside  your  work  his  is  poor  "  ;  "  Beside 

33 


between  A   Desk-Book   of 

boiled 

the  point  at  issue  "  ;  "  The  poor  fellow  is  beside  him- 
self. "  Besides  as  a  preposition  means  "  in  addition 
to  "  or  "  except."  "  Besides  wealth  he  had  health  "  ; 
"  Besides  death  he  knew  no  fear.  "  As  an  adverb  it 
means  "  moreover  "or  "  other  than.  "  ''Besides,  it 
is  late  "  ;  "  He  was  heedless  of  all  the  world  besides'"' 
Beside,  then,  conveys  the  idea  of  conjunction,  sepa- 
ration or  comparison  ;  whereas  besides  implies  addi- 
tion or  exception. 

between.     Compare  among. 

between  you  and  I :  This  is  incorrect.  Both 
pronouns  are  objects  of  the  preposition  between  and 
should  be  in  the  objective  case  ;  say  "  between  you 
and  me.  "     Compare  you  and  I. 

bevy  :  A  word  sometimes  misapplied.  It  is  ap 
plied  correctly  to  a  company  of  girls,  a  flock  of  birds, 
as,  quail,  grouse,  or  larks  ;  also  to  a  small  herd  of 
deer  or  heifers. 

big,  great  :  Discriminate  carefully  between  these 
words.  Big  is  not  synonymous  with  great.  A  man 
may  be  physically  big  but  is  not  necessarily  great 
mentally.  Emerson  was  mentally  a  great  man,  and 
although  tall  physically  he  was  not  a  big  man.  Big 
and  large  are  synonymous,  but  while  big  is  more  em- 
phatic, large  is  a  more  refined  or  elegant  term. 

big-bug  :  A  slang  term  used  to  denote  a  person  of 
consequence,  actual  or  self-imagined.  Say  rather, 
*'  A  prominent  "  or,  "  an  important  man." 

34 


Errors  in   English  between 

boiled 

big-wig  :  A  slang  term  common  in  England  for  a 

person    in   authority  or  of  prominence.     Compare 

BIG-BUG. 

bird  :  In  the  phrase  "  You're  a  bird  "  an  inane 
and,  therefore,  undesirable  expression. 

bit :  Primarily  a  bite,  a  small  piece,  or  by  extension 
a  small  quantity ;  as,  a  hit  of  bread,  a  bit  of  fun.  By 
error,  the  word  is  sometimes  applied  to  liquids  ;  as, 
"  there  is  not  a  bit  of  water  on  the  farm."  But  when 
reference  is  to  liquid  to  be  drunk,  it  is  more  discrim- 
inating to  say,  not  a  bit,  but  a  sip. 

blame  on  :  Indefensible  slang.  We  blame  a  per- 
son y&/-  a  fault,  or  lay  the  blame  upon  him.  Not, 
as  in  a  New  York  newspaper,  after  the  last  Presi- 
dential election,  "  I  do  not  blame  the  defeat  o?i  the 
President,  "  but  "  I  do  not  blame  the  President  for 
the  defeat,  "  or  "  I  do  not  lay  tJie  bla?ne  ,  .  .  2/po;i,  " 
etc. 

blow  :  A  colloquialism  for  boastful  talk,  which  is 
expressed  less  coarsely  but  with  as  much  force  by 
''  bluster  "  or  "  brag.  " 

blowhard  :  A  coarse  term  for  *'  boaster  "  synony- 
mous with  windbag  ;  not  used  by  persons  of  refine- 
ment.    Compare  windbag. 

boiled  shirt ;  A  slang  phrase  designating  a  white 
linen  shirt.  It  originated  in  the  Western  States  of 
America  but  its  use  is  widespread  among  persons 
addicted  to  careless  diction. 

35 


Doost  A  Desk-Book  of 

bounce 

boost,  to  :  A  vulgarism  for  "  to  assist "  ;  used  also 
as  a  noun,  as  "  He  gave  me  a  l^oos^  in  business  "  for 
*'He  assisted  me.  .  .  ." 

borne,  the  past  participle  of  dear,  must  not  be  con- 
founded with  the  adjective  bom.  *'  Man  is  l^or/i  to 
sorrow,  which  may  or  may  not  be  well  boriie.^^ 

both  :  When  both  is  used  in  a  negative  sentence,  the 
meaning  intended  is  sometimes  doubtful.  "  Both  ap- 
plicants were  not  accepted,  "  Were  both  applicants 
rejected  ?  Or,  was  one  rejected  and  the  other  ac- 
cepted ?  Or,  was  neither  applicant  accepted  or  re- 
jected ?  A  similar  confusion  of  sense  occurs  in  some 
negative  sentences  containing  all,  when  not  is  mis- 
placed ;  this  practically  contradicts  the  sense  in- 
tended, or  makes  it  ambiguous ;  as,  all  will  not  go, 
that  is,  not  all  will  go — meaning  some  will  and  some 
will  not  go.  "  All  were  not  of  that  mind  "  (proba- 
bly) not  all  were  of  that  mind,  or  (possibly)  all  were 
of  a  different  mind  or  minds  from  the  one  spoken 
of.  So,  also,  when  all  is  used  substantively.  "  All 
that  glisters  is  not  gold  " — not  all  that  glisters  is 
gold.  A  peculiarity  of  both  is  that  it  can  not  be  neg- 
atived by  connecting  7wt  immediately  with  it,  except 
elliptically  in  sentences  of  unusual  form  that  are 
obviously  arranged  for  the  prevention  of  misunder- 
standing— as  in  correcting  the  doubtful  meaning  of 
the  sentence  cited  above,  "  Both  applicants  were  not 
accepted.  "     If  one  asks,  in  order  to  clear  its  confu- 

36 


Errors  In  English  boost 

bounce 
sing  impression,  "  Were  both  rejected  ?  "  the  reply  may 
properly  be,  ^'' Not  both  were  rejected;  one  was  re- 
jected and  one  accepted  " — a  connection  of  not  with 
both  that  is  usually  inadmissible.  The  confusion  in 
meaning  of  a  negative  sentence  containing  both  will 
be  best  avoided  by  making  the  sentence  affirmative ; 
"  Both  applicants  were  rejected,"  "  One  of  the  two 
applicants  was  rejected  and  the  other  accepted," 
etc. — Standard  Dictionary. 

both  :  As  an  adjective  or  pronoun  both  emphasizes 
the  idea  of  two.  It  has  been  well  defined  as  "  the 
two,  and  not  merely  one  of  them  " ;  it  can  not  prop- 
erly, therefore,  be  connected  with  or  refer  to  more 
than  two  objects.  As  a  conjunction,  however,  both 
has  a  more  extended  meaning  and  employment  than 
it  has  as  an  adjective  or  a  pronoun  ;  thus,  it  is  per- 
missible to  say,  "  He  lost  all  his  live  stock — both 
horses,  cows,  and  sheep. "  Both^  as  so  used,  em- 
phasizes the  extent  or  comprehensiveness  of  the  as- 
sertion. The  use  has  been  challenged,  but  has 
abundant  literary  authority,  and  antedates  Chaucer. 

both  alike  :  A  pleonasm.  Two  things  may  be  alike 
but  alike  should  not  be  used  as  an  adjective.  Both 
daughters  may  be  like  their  mother,  but  to  say  they 
are  both  alike,  meaning  that  they  resemble  each  other, 
is  incorrect.     Both  should  never  be  used  with  alike. 

bounce  :  A  colloquialism  for  "  discharge  "  or  "  eject 
forcibly,"  an  apt  rather  than  an  elegant  term. 

37 


bound  A  Desk-Book  of 

brevity- 
bound  :  This  word  may  be  the  participial  adjective 
of  bud^  prepare,  or  the  past  participle  of  binda7i,  bind. 
The  words  should  not  be  confused.  "  I  am  bound 
to  have  it : "  yes,  if  constrained  or  compelled  ;  but 
no,  if  merely  resolved.  It  is  true  that  in  the  United 
States  a  colloquial  usage  to  this  effect  has  become 
popular,  but  it  is  none  the  less  an  error  of  speech. 

bountiful,  plentiful :  Bountiful  which  originally 
meant  "  generous  in  bestowing  gifts  "  has  gradually 
come  to  mean  "  showing  abundance,  "  "  yielding  in 
plenty."  In  the  latter  sense  it  is  synonymous  with 
plentiful, 

bourne  :  From  the  French  borne,  bourne  ( Latin 
bodina,  limit ),  means  that  which  marks  the  end,  and 
hence  the  end  or  goal.  It  does  not  mean  cowitry 
which  it  is  so  often  supposed  to  mean — presumedly 
from  Hamlet's  "  undiscovered  countr}^,  from  whose 
bourne  no  traveller  returns."  Readers  who  on  this 
authority  construe  bourne  as  countr}^  make  the  mis- 
take of  substituting  the  word  "  which  "  for  the  phrase 
"  whose  "  bourne. 

brand-new  often  incorrectly  written  bran-new. 
The  original  and  etymologically  correct  form  of  this 
word  is  brand-new,  from  brand,  meaning  "  fire  "  or 
"burning,"  and  new  meaning  "fresh" — the  "fire- 
new  "  of  Shakespeare  (Twelfth  Night,  act.  iii.,  sc.  2) 
5s  best  explained  by  bis  own  words,  "  fire-new  from 
the  mint,"  meaning  "  fresh  and  bright  "  like  a  new 


Errors  In  English  bound 

brevity 

coin,  as  being  newly  come  from  the  fire  and  forge. 

Bran-new  is  a  colloquialism. 

brand  of  Cain  :  By  a  peculiar  perversion  of  facts, 
this  is  invariably  referred  to  as  a  stigma  similar  to 
the  scarlet  letter  with  which  Hester  Prynne  was  in- 
deed branded.  But  the  brand  was  an  act  of  mercy 
and  "  a  token  of  Divine  protection,  "  for  *'the  Lord 
set  a  mark  on  Cain,  lest  any  finding  him  should  slay 
him.  " 

bravery,  courage  :  Inasmuch  as  the  courageous 
may  be  without  bravery  and  the  brave  without  cour- 
age a  careful  discrimination  should  always  be  made 
in  the  use  of  these  terms.  Courage  is  rather  a  virtue 
of  the  mind,  whereas  bravery  is  temperamental. 
Your  courage  may  ooze  out,  as  it  were,  at  the  palms 
of  your  hands,  but  bravery  which  is  instinctive,  re- 
mains. For  this  reason  bravery  may  often  be  mis- 
placed, true  courage — which  ever  seeks  to  do  the  right 
thing  at  the  right  time,  regardless  of  results — never. 

bred  and  bom  :  An  erroneous  sequence  of  words. 
One  is  born  before  one  is  bred\  therefore  say  "  born 
and  bred.  " 

brevity,  conciseness :  Words  sometimes  misused. 
Brevity  is  commonly  applied  to  shortness  of  time, 
but  it  has  the  sanction  of  literary  usage  for  conciseness 
or  condensation  of  language  into  few  words.  A 
speech  may  be  concise  yet  comprehensive  ;  that  is,  it 
may  cover    the   entire    range  of  a  subject    in  few 

39 


bring  A  Desk-Book  of 

building 

words  and  as  such  be  characterized  by  concisemss ; 
another  may  be  short  in  duration,  the  theme  being 
one  that  does  not  permit  of  expansion  and  as  such 
be  characterized  by  bi'evity. 

bring,  carry,  fetch :  Discriminate  carefully  be- 
tween these  words.  Bring  expresses  motion  toward 
some  person,  place,  or  thing,  and  implies  to  bear 
from  a  distant  place  to  one  nearer;  carry  expresses 
motion  away  from;  fetch  expresses  motion  from  a 
given  place  to  another,  as  for  the  purpose  of  ob- 
taining some  article,  and  return  to  the  given  place 
with  the  article  required.      Go  and  fetch  is  pleonastic. 

Britannia  :  This  word  is  often  misspelled  "  Brittan- 
nia.  "  It  is  from  Britain  and  should  be  spelled  with 
only  one  "  t "  but  two  "  n's.  " 

broach,  brooch  :  Discriminate  carefully  bet\veen 
these  terms.  Although  both  are  derived  from  the 
same  source  etymologically  (Latin,  broca,  a  spike) 
they  are  now  widely  different  in  meaning.  A  broach 
may  mean  "  a  boring  into  an  opening,  a  spit,  or  a 
spire."  It  is  also  the  name  of  the  boring  bits  or  drills 
used  in  carpentering  or  engineering.  It  means  also 
"  to  approach  any  one  in  conversation  "  on  some  par- 
ticular subject.  A  brooch  is  "  a  breastpin  or  an  orna- 
mental pin  or  clasp  used  as  for  display  or  to  fasten 
some  part  of  a  dress." 

broke  :  A  word  often  misused  for  ''broken."  Do 
not  say  "  I'm  broke'''  say  rather  "broken  "--To  go 

40 


Errors  in   English  bring 

building 
broke:  A  colloquial  phrase  common  in  commer- 
cial circles  for  ''  to  become  bankrupt.  "  These  terms 
are  avoided  by  persons  who  cultivate  a  refined 
diction. 

brothers  :  Distinguished  from  brethren.  The  one 
applies  to  those  who  are  brothers  by  birth,  whereas 
the  other  indicates  fraternal  relationship  in  some 
order  or  society. 

building,  being  built :  There  are  advocates  of 
either  form.  Fitzedward  Hall  has  shown  conclu- 
sively that  "  is  being  built "  has  been  used  by  the 
best  writers  for  a  century  or  more,  and  now^  has  uni- 
versal literar}^  sanction.  Richard  Whately,  George 
P.  Marsh,  Richard  Grant  White,  and  other  critics 
have  strenuously  objected  to  this  use.  In  literature 
there  is  support  enough  for  their  views  :  Milton 
wrote  "while  the  Temple  of  the  Lord  was  building. ' 
Dr.  Johnson,  in  writing  to  Boswell,  of  his  Lives  of 
iJie  Poets  said  "My  'Lives'  are  repri?iti?ig ;^^  Ma- 
caulay  followed  the  same  st}4e  and  wrote  "  Chelsea 
Hospital  was  building''' ;  "  while  innocent  blood  ivas 
shedding.  "  Bei?ig  has  a  special  modern  use  with 
passive  forms  of  verbs  to  express  progressive  action. 
For  example,  is,  are,  or  was  being  built,  expresses 
what  is  expressed  also  by  is,  are,  or  was  building, 
a-building,  or  in  buildi?ig.  Both  forms  are  permissi- 
ble, but  "is  bei7ig  built''  is  more  frequently  heard 
•^nd,  perhaps,  preferable. 

41 


building  A  Desk-Book  of 

by 

building,  construction :  Alfred  Ayres  {Some  Ill- 
used  Words,  p.  44)  quotes  the  following  example 
of  the  misuse  of  these  words  :  "  These  two  advisory 
bodies  have  recommended  the  building  of  battleships. 
It  is  understood  that  Mr.  Long  is  opposed  to  the 
construction  [constructing]  of  any  armorclads."  Mr. 
Ayres  points  out  that  if  building  is  correct — and  it 
is — then  construction  is  incorrect  and  the  correct  word 
to  use  is  constructing. 

bum  :  A  vulgar  term  for  "  an  idle,  dissolute  fellow; 
a  loafer," — on  the  bum.     A  vulgar  phrase  used  to  de 
note  that  that  to  which  it  is  applied  is  of  poor  qual- 
ity, badly  done,  or  has  been  subjected  to  careless 
treatment. 

busted :  A  slang  term  for  financially  broken,  not 
used  by  persons  accustomed  to  a  refined  diction. 
Compare  broke. 

but,  however  :  Discriminate  carefully  between 
these  words.  Do  not  say  "He  is  suffering — not, 
however,  acutely ;  "  say  rather,  "He  is  suffering, 
but  not  acutely." 

but  that :  Implies  a  negative,  but  when  it  follows 
another  negative  phrase  (as  "I  don't  know  but  that  I 
did  it ")  it  suggests  the  positive  or,  as  in  the  example 
given  above,  the  likelihood  or  possibility  that  some 
act  has  been  done.  Locutions  of  this  kind  should 
be  avoided  as  inelegant,  say  rather  "  I  may  have 

done  it." 

42 


Errors  in  English  building 

but  what :  This  is  equivalent  to  but  that  which  and 
is  an  incorrect  expression  for  but  that.  **  I  am  not 
sure  but  what  I  shall  be  there  "  should  be  written  but 
that,  and  indicates  the  possibility  or  even  probability 
of  being  there ;  but  note  that  if  the  but  be  omitted 
from  the  latter  (and  correct)  usage,  the  indication  is 
the  reverse.     Compare  but  that. 

but  yet  :  Should  not  be  used  when  either  but  ox  yet 
is  sufficient  by  itself ;  as,  "  Wealth  may  seek  us  ;  but 
wisdom  must  be  sought"  ;  not  but  yet.  When,  how- 
ever, Archbishop  Trench  says,  ^^  But  yet  these  pains 
hand  us  over  to  true  pleasures  "  {Study  of  Words ^ 
p.  232),  each  conjunction  has  its  distinct  adversative 
sense.  This  appears  still  more  clearly  in  "  Ye  are 
but  common  men,  but  [on  the  contrary]  yet  [notwith- 
standing that  fact]  ye  think  with  minds  not  common." 
«   Coleridge  Wallenstein  2,  3. 

bute  :  A  vulgar  corruption  of  "  beauty  "  used  by 
illiterates ;  as,  "  She's  a  bute.'''  Correctly  "  She  is  a 
beauty  "  or  "a  beautiful  woman." 

butt  in,  to  :  A  vulgar  although  expressive  phrase 
meaning  "  to  interfere  officiously  or  inquisitively 
with,"  not  used  by  persons  accustomed  to  refined 
diction. 

by  :  Properly  used  before  the  agent  or  doer  ;  with 
before  the  instrument  or  means  ;  as,  "  He  was  killed 
by  the  assassin  with  a  dagger."  But  active  forces 
are  often  thought  of  as  agents,  so  that  we  properly 

43 


cabbage  A   Desk-Book   of 

cannon 

say   "  The  house  was    destroyed   by  fire."      ''  His 

friends  were  displeased  by  the  selection  of  another 

chairman  "  means  that  the  action  displeased  them ; 

"  his  friends  were  displeased  a////z  the  selection,"  etc., 

means  that  the  man  selected  was  not  their  choice. 

''  A  gentleman  by  the  name  of  Hinkley." 

"  Oh,  no  1  You  mean  '  A  gentleman  ^the  name  of 

Hinkley.'     This  is  Englishj  you  know." 

One  may  say  "  I  know  no  one  of  the  name  of 

Brown,"  or  "  I  know  no  one  3^ the  name  of  Brown  "  ; 

but  the  meaning  is  different.     One  might  know  a 

man  ^  the  name  of  Brown,  but  know  him  by  the 

name  of  Smith.     It  is  better  to  say  simply  "  a  man 

named  Brown." — Standard  Dictionary. 

c 

cabbage  for  *'  steal  or  "  crib, "  as  from  a  pony, 
is  schoolboy  slang. 

cake,  takes  the:  A  slang  equivalent  for  "wins 
the  prize."  Used  usually  to  designate  that  the  per- 
son, act,  or  statement  to  which  it  is  applied  exceeds 
in  impudence  anything  within  the  knowledge  of  the 
persons  present. 

calculate  :  The  verb  signifies  to  ascertain  by  math- 
ematical or  scientific  computation;  and  the  word 
calculated  therefore  strictly  means  adapted  by  calcu- 
lation. It  is  then  illogical  to  speak  of  "  measures 
calculated  Xo  Ao  harm  "  when  the  measures  were  in 

44 


Errors  in   English  cabbage 

cannon 

fact  designated  for  a  specific  purpose — that  of  doing 

good. 

calligraphy  and  cacography  respectively  mean  good 
and  bad  writing.  It  is  therefore  pleonastic  to  speak 
of  excellent  caUigraphy  or  wretched  cacography  ;  and 
to  describe  the  former  as  wretched  would  simply 
be  to  say  that  at  the  same  time  it  was  both  excellent 
and  the  reverse. 

cameo  :  The  plural  of  the  word  is  not  formed  by 
adding  "-es"  as  in  "potato"  or  "grotto"  but  by 
the  adding  of  "  -s  "  ;  as,  ca7?teos. 

can  :  Misused  for  may.  Ca?i  always  refers  to  some 
form  of  possibility.  An  armed  guard  may  say  "You 
can  not  pass,"  since  he  has  physical  power  to  pre- 
vent ;  hence  the  question  "  Can  I  pass  the  guard? " 
is  perfectly  natural.  But  where  simple  permission 
is  required  may  should  be  used.  '^Afay  I  (not 
can  I )  use  your  ruler  ?  " 

can  but,  can  not  but :  Discriminate  carefully  be- 
tween these  phrases.  Both  these  sentences  are 
grammatically  correct,  though  they  have  not  exactly 
the  same  meaning:  "I  ca7i  not  but  believe  your 
proposition  "  means  "  \'Can  //<?/ /^^-/^  believing,"  etc. ; 
while  ''  I  cati  but  believe  your  proposition  "  means 
"  I  ca7i  only  believe,"  etc.,  a  much  less  strong  asser- 
tion. 

canine  should  not  be  used  for  "dog." 

cannon,  a  tubular  gun,  comes  from  Greek  kanna, 

45 


capacity  A   Desk-Book  of 

catch 

reed,  and  must  be  distinguished  from  canon,  a  rule 

or  law,  which  comes  from  the  Greek  ka?iOfi,  rule. 

capacity.     Compare  ability. 

caption  is  not  to  be  used  in  the  sense  of  title,  save 
as  to  a  legal  document  "  showing  the  time,  place, 
circumstances  and  authority — under  which  it  was 
made  or  executed."  "  The  affectation  of  fine  big- 
sounding  words  which  have  a  flavor  of  classical 
learning  has  had  few  more  laughable  or  absurd 
manifestations  than  the  use  of  caption  (which  means 
seizure,  act  of  taking)  in  the  sense  ....  of  heading." 
— R.  G.  White,   Words  and  Their  Uses,  ch.  5,  p.  98. 

carnival,  which  comes  from  the  Latin  caro,  flesh,  + 
k7J0,  take  away,  and  alludes  in  Catholic  countries  to 
the  pre-Lenten  "  farewell  to  meat,"  which  concludes 
with  Mardi  Gras,  has  been  stigmatized  by  Dr.  Wil- 
liam Mathews  as  an  "  outlandish  term  "  which  "  has 
not  a  shadow  of  justification  "  in  the  popular  sense 
of  a  gay  festivity  or  revel.  Inasmuch  as  the  pre- 
Lenten  farewell  is  marked  by  festival,  frolic  and 
fun,  the  stigmatization  is  undeserved,  and  such  ex- 
pressions as  "  the  crows  are  holding  high  car7iiva\ 
on  the  hill "  are  not  merely  permissible  but  good. 

carry  :  Although  formerly  used  with  the  meaning 
of  "conduct,"  "guide,"  or  "escort"  the  term  in 
this  sense  is  now  archaic.  Do  not  say  "  Mr.  A. 
car?ied  Miss  B.  to  the  party;"  say  rather,  "  .  .  .  . 
escorted  Miss  B.  .  .  .  "     Compare  also  bring. 

4t> 


Errors  in  English         ■  capacity- 
catch 

case  :  Not  to  be  applied  to  persons.  The  ex- 
pression sometimes  used  of  an  eccentric  or  vicious 
person,  "  He  is  a  case''  or  "  a  hard  case,'^  is  an  ob- 
jectionable colloquialism. 

casket,  which  is  from  the  French  casque,  helmet,  is 
frequently  now  used  in  the  United  States  as  a  eu- 
phemism for  coflan,  which  is  from  the  Greek  kophinos, 
basket.  Such  innovations  are  not  to  be  recom- 
mended. They  savor  of  pedantry,  or,  worse  still, 
of  pride.  If  coffin  is  not  good  enough  for  the  worthy 
deceased  or  for  his  purse-proud  relatives,  why  rest 
content  with  the  simple  casket,  when  by  a  mere  figure 
of  speech  sarcophagus  may  save  the  reputation  of 
both  the  living  and  the  dead  ? 

casuality  is  an  obsolete  form  of  casualty,  and 
should  be  treated  as  such. 

cataclasm  and  cataclysm  are  often  interchanged. 
The  Greek  kata,  do\\Ti,  is  combined  in  the  one  case 
with  klao,  break,  and  in  the  other  with  klyzo,  wash. 
Where  sudden  overAvhelming  change  is  intended,  as 
by  revolution,  cataclasm  is  to  be  preferred  to  cata- 
clysm, which,  though  sometimes  used  to  signify  such 
a  change,  is  strictly  applied  to  an  overwhelming 
flood  of   water,  and,  specifically,  to  the   Noachian 

deluge. 

catch  on,  to  :  A  colloquialism  having  two  distinct 
meanings,  the  first  bordering  on  the  vulgar,  is  used 
by  persons  with  little  sense  of  refinement  in  speecn 

47 


ceiling  A   Desk-Book  of 

cite 

for  "to  understand";  the  second,  used  instead  of 
"  to  suit  the  popular  fancy  "  or  "  to  please  the 
popular  taste." 

ceiling  which  in  derivation  is  allied  with  the  French 
ciel^  Lat.  coehwi,  heaven,  is  to  be  distinguished  from  its 
homonym  sealing,  the  act  of  attesting  with  a  seal, 
which  springs  etymologically  from  the  Y.-dXvix  sigillum^ 
dim.  of  signu7n,  mark. 

celery,  salary  ;  Exercise  care  in  spelling  these 
words.  Celery  \z  a  biennial  herb  ;  salary,  a  periodical 
allowance  made  as  compensation  for  services. 

cereal,  a  word  derived  from  Ceres,  the  goddess  of 
corn.  It  has  nothing  in  common,  save  the  sound, 
with  serial,  which  fitly  describes  a  literar}^  publi- 
cation in  parts  issued  successively  (Lat.  series,  sere^ 
join).     Exercise  care  in  spelling  these  words. 

cession,  from  Latin  of  cedo,  yield,  meaning  sur- 
render, must  not  be  confounded  with  session,  from 
Latin  sedeo,  sit,  as  used  in  the  expression  a  sessiofi  of 
court. 

character,  reputation  :  These  are  not  synonymous 
terms.  Character  is  what  one  is ;  I'cputation  is  that 
which  one  is  thought  to  be.  Character  includes  both 
natural  and  acquired  traits  ;  7-eptitation  designates 
only  those  traits  acquired  as  by  contact  with  one's 
fellow  men.  Holland  in  Gold  Foil  (p.  219)  makes 
the  following  distinction  :  "  Character  lives  in  a  man ; 
reputation  outside  of  him." 

48 


Errors  In  English  ceiling 

cite 

chargeable :  Do  not  spell  this  word  chargahle. 
Remember  its  components  are  charge  +  able  and  the 
"  e  "  is  retained  before  the  second  "  a." 

cherubim  and  seraphim  :  Do  not  use  these  plurals 
as  singulars.     There  is  no  such  thing  as  a  cherubim, 

chew  the  rag  :  A  low  phrase  sometimes  used  as 
an  equivalent  for  "  wrangle  ;  "  as,  "  stop  chewing  the 
rag,"  meaning,  "  cease  wrangling."  The  use  of  ex- 
pressions of  this  kind  can  not  be  too  severely  con- 
dem.ned. 

childlike,  childish  :  There  is  a  distinction  between 
these  words.  The  one  is  used  in  a  good  sense,  the 
other  is  spoken  in  derogation. 

chin  music  :  A  low  phrase  sometimes  used  as  an 
equivalent  for  "talk,"  but  not  uttered  by  persons  of 
refinement. 

chuck-full  is  the  American  colloquial  form  of  choke- 
or  chock-full,  but  this  form  finds  no  literary  favor,  and 
indeed  the  expression  is  far  from  elegant,  both  in 
sense  and  sound. 

circus  :  This  word  should  not  be  used  as  a 
synonym  of  ''  frolic ;  "  as  such  it  is  a  vulgar  per- 
version. 

cite,  from  the  French  citer  (  Latin  cito^  frequenta- 
tive of  cieo,  call),  means  "mention  by  name,  sum- 
mon "  and  has  no  relationship  with  site,  similarly 
pronounced,  which  means  "  local  position,"  and  is 
derived  from  Lat.  situa,  pp.  of  sifio^  put. 

49 


citizen  A  Desk-Book  of 

comparG 

citizen :  Not  to  be  used  for  person,  except  when 
civic  relations  are  referred  to.  "  All  citizens  are  en- 
titled to  the  protection  of  the  law,"  but  not  "  Ten 
citizens  were  walking  up  the  street,'*  unless  reference 
is  had  to  some  civic  relation,  as  when  opposed  to 
soldiers,  policemen,  residents  of  the  country,  or  the 

Uke. 

claim  ;  "  He  daimedi}[\2X  the  discovery  was  his," 
«'I  claim  that  this  is  true,"  etc.  Incorrect  if  the 
meaning  is  simply  assert  or  maintain  ;  but  correct  if 
the  meaning  is  assert  with  readiness  to  maintain,  and 
confidence  that  the  thing  asserted  can  be  maintained, 
with  the  added  idea  that  it  makes  for  the  advantage 
or  side  of  him  who  asserts  and  maintains  it. 

clever:  In  American  colloquial  usage  <r/^z'^r means 
"  good-natured  and  obliging  " ;  in  English  use  it 
means  "  skilful. "  The  American  synonym  for  the 
English  meaning  of  "  clever  "  is  smart,  and  the  Eng- 
lish synonym  for  the  American  meaning  of  "  clever  " 

is  jolly. 

climax,  acme  :  Discriminate  carefully  between 
these  words.  A  climax  is  a  successive  increase  in 
force  of  language  for  the  purpose  of  intensifying  it. 
The  acme  is  the  highest  point  or  greatest  intensity 
attained. 

climb  down  :  As  to  climh  signifies  ascension,  this 
colloquialism  of  the  United  States  is  apparently  un- 
warranted.    If,  however,  a  descent  be  laborious,  as 

50 


Errors  in  English  citizen 

compare 
though  by  hands  and  feet,  crawl  should  be  used  as 
a  substitute  for  climb. 

coeval,  contemporary  :  Discriminate  carefully  be- 
tween these  terms.  Coeval  is  said  of  things  existing 
at  the  same  time  ;  contemporary  is  applied  to  persons 
living  in  the  same  period. 

coflan.     Compare  casket. 

commence.     Compare  begin. 

commodious.     Compare  convenient. 

common.     Compare  mutual. 

commonly  :  Do  not  confound  this  word  with  gen- 
erally, frequently^  usually.  That  is  co?nmonly  done 
which  is  common  to  all ;  that  is  generally  done,  which 
is  done  by  the  larger  number;  that  is  frequently  done 
which  is  done  by  a  large  number  or  by  a  single 
person  on  many  occasions  ;  that  is  usually  done 
which  is  customarily  done  whether  by  many  or  one. 

community  is  not  a  common  noun  personified, 
and  therefore  should  always  be  preceded  by  the 
article.  Congress  and  Parliament,  State  and  Church 
have  been  personified,  and  may  accordingly  be  used 
definitely  in  the  singular  number  without  the  article ; 
but  to  permit  such  treatment  to  army,  navy,  public, 
or  community  would  be  a  literary  solecism. 

compare  to  or  with  :  We  compare  one  thing  with 
another  to  note  points  of  agreement  or  difference. 
We  compare  one  thing  to  another  which  we  believe 
it  resembles. 

61 


complected  A  Desk-Book  of 

con  man 

"  As  a  writer  of  English  he  [Addison]  is  not  to  be 
compared^  except  with  great  peril  to  his  reputation, 
to  at  least  a  score  of  men." — Richard  Grant  White, 
Words  a?id  their    Uses,  ch.  4,  p.  79. 

He  should  have  said  laith.  If  Addison  is  to  be 
compared  to  the  (presumably)  able  writers  referred 
to,  it  can  not  be  with  '*  peril  to  his  reputation."  If 
comparmg  him  with  these  men  is  perilous  to  his  repu- 
tation, then  for  his  sake  the  comparison  should 
not  be  made.  The  sentence  is  an  attempt  to  com- 
bine two  ideas  incompatible  in  a  single  construction, 
viz.,  "  If  he  is  cojnpared  with  these  men,  it  will  be  to 
his  disadvantage,"  and  "  He  is  not  to  be  compared 
to  these  men." — Standard  Dictionary. 

complected  for  complexioned  is  dialectical  in  the 
United  States,  and  not  sanctioned  in  general  usage. 

complement,  compliment :  Discriminate  carefully 
between  these  words.  Co?npIe7ne7it  means  "  full  quan- 
tity  or  number ;  that  which  is  needed  to  complete 
or  fill  up  some  quantity  or  thing ;  or  a  complete  or 
symmetrical  whole.'*  A  compliment  is  "a  delicate 
flattery,  an  expression  of  admiration  or  an  act  of 
civility  or  courtesy." 

complete:  A  speech  may  hefiiished  but  far  from 
complete.  To  finish  is  to  bring  to  an  end,  but  to  co77i- 
plete  is  to  bring  to  a  state  in  which  there  is  nothing 
more  to  do.     You  finish  your  dinner,  but  cojtiplete 

your  toilet. 

52 


Krrors  in   Knglish       complected 

con  man 

completion.     Compare  final. 

comprehend.     Compare  apprehend. 

conciseness.     Compare  brevity. 

conclude  should  not  be  used  for  "  close.'*  To  con- 
clude is  a  mental  process  ;  to  close  a  physical  one. 

condign  means  "  well-merited  "  ;  therefore,  the 
common  phrase  "  condign  punishment "  is  cor- 
rect, but  the  phrase  "  Deserving  (or  not  deserv- 
ing) condign  punishment,''  is  absurd  because  tauto- 
logical. 

conduct :  Although  the  dictionaries  give  both  a 
transitive  and  intransitive  place  to  this  verb  in  the 
signification  of  "  behave,"  it  should  properly  be  used 
only  reflexively,  as  a  transitive.  Say,  "  How  did  the 
debutante  conduct  herself }  "  rather  than  ''  How 
did  the  debutante  conduct  ?  " 

confess.     Compare  own. 

congratulate.     Compare  felicitate. 

congregation,  corps  :  Exercise  care  in  the  use  of 
these  words.  A  congregation  is  an  assemblage  of 
persons  who  meet  as  for  religious  worship  or  in- 
struction ;  a  corps  is  a  body  of  men  associated  in 
some  specific  work,  as  a  marine  co7-ps  ;  a  corps  of  en- 
gineers. A  congregation  embraces  both  sexes,  corps 
is  restricted  to  the  male  sex. 

con  man  :  A  vulgar  term  for  a  swindler's  decoy 
or  ''bunco-steerer";  z.  C07ifide7ice  ma?i:  not  used  in 
polite  society. 

53 


conscious  A   Desk-Book  of 

continual 

conscious,  which  relates  to  knowledge  within  one's 
self,  should  not  be  used  for  aware,  which  implies 
being  on  the  lookout.  The  one  refers  only  to  the 
past,  or  a  present  allied  to  the  past,  the  other  to  the 
future.  We  are  conscious  of  suffering,  but  aware  of 
imminent  danger.  One  is  conscious  of  the  inner 
workings  of  his  own  mind,  but  auare  of  that  which 
exists  without  him. 

constantly  does  not  always  mean  ''continually." 
A  man  eats  constantly  but  he  would  soon  cease  to  be 
a  man  if  he  were  to  eat  continuously.  In  this  sense 
constantly  means  "regularly"  and  continuously 
means  "without  ceasing."  Perpetually,  which  means 
"incessantly,"  must  also,  and  for  the  same  reason, 
be  distinguished  from  constantly.  Compare  perpet- 
ually. 

construct:  Although  this  verb  formerly  had  the 
meaning  of  construe,  both  words  having  the  same 
etymology,  being  derived  from  the  Latin  con,  to- 
gether, +  strua,  pile  up,  it  must  no  longer  be  used 
as  synonymous  therewith.  You  construe  a  sentence 
but  construct  a  theory. 

construction.     Compare  building. 

construe.    Compare  construct. 

consul,  counsel,  council:  Discriminate  carefully 
between  these  words.  A  consul  is  an  officer  appointed 
to  reside  in  a  foreign  port  or  city  as  the  representa- 
tive of  his  country's  commercial  interests;  a  counsel 

54 


Errors  in   English  conscious 

continual 
is  a  la^vyer  engaged  to  give  advice  or  act  as  advocate 
in  court ;  a  council  is  a  body  of  persons  elected  oi 
appointed  to  assist  in  the  administration  of  govern 
ment  or  to  legislate ;  a  coimcuor  is  a  member  of  a 
council ;  a  counselor  is  one  wlio  gives  counsel ;  or, 
who  is  an  adviser  or  a  lawyer. 

contagious,  contiguous  :  Discriminate  carefully  be- 
tween these  words.  A  disease  may  be  contagious, 
that  is  catching ;  fear  is  contagious  when  it  spreads 
from  one  to  another.  Contiguous  is  used  chiefly  of 
neighboring  regions  or  places  and  means  "  adjacent 
or  situated  so  as  to  touch." 

contemplate  :  May  be  used  in  the  sense  of  plan, 
intend,  but  unless  the  matter  in  question  be  somewhat 
doubtful  and  involves  further  thoughtful  considera- 
tion, it  is  better  to  say  i?itend  or  propose. 

contemporary.     Compare  coeval. 

contemptible,  contemptibly,  contemptuous,  con- 
temptuously :  Discriminate  carefully  between  these 
W'ords.  A  co7itemptible  person  is  one  deserving  of 
contempt  as  for  meanness  or  vileness ;  co?iie7npiibly 
means  "  in  a  contemptible  manner  "  or  "  in  a  manner 
deser\dng  of  contempt."  A  contemptuous  person  is 
"  a  disdainful  person."  One  who  speaks  cotitemptu- 
ously  of  another  speaks  of  him  with  scorn  or  disdain. 

continual,  continuous  :  C-^ntinual  implies  the  re- 
peated renewal  of  an  ac  t ;  continuous  means  its 
unceasing  continuit)\     The  following  sentence  will 

55 


continually         A    Desk-Book   Ot 

crime 

serve  to  illustrate  the  correct  use  of  these  words  i 

"  Continual  interruptions  impede  co7itinuous  work." 

continually.     Compare  constantly. 

controller,  derived  from  the  French  co7itre  rble^  and 
indicating  a  person  whose  office  it.  is  to  keep  ;i 
counter  roll  or  check  in  the  accounts  of  others, 
should  not  properly  be  spelt  comptroller,  which 
word  originates  in  a  false  derivation  from  cojitpter^ 
to  count.  Instead  of  the  word  being  thus  derived, 
the  spelling  has  been  accommodated  by  some  to  the 
imagmed  derivation. 

convenient,  commodious  :  These  terms  are  not 
always  interchangeable.  A  room  may  be  "  conven- 
ient "  in  that  it  is  suitable  for  a  required  purpose 
and  "  commodious  "  because  it  affords  ample  accom- 
modation for  the  purpose  for  which  it  is  appHed.  A 
book  may  be  convetiient  in  size  or  arrangement  but 
not  commodious. 

correspond  :  When  the  word  means  "  answer  or 
conform  to  "it  is  followed  by  the  preposition  to; 
when  it  means  "  hold  written  communication  "  the 
preposition  is  with. 

cotemporary  which  implies  "  equally  temporary  " 
should  not  be  used  for  "  contemporary  "  which  means 
existing  at  the  same  time. 

cough  up  :  Used  as  an  equivalent  for  "  pay  up,  " 
is  vulgar  and,  therefore,  not  used  in  polite  society. 

council,  councilor,  counsel,  etc.     Compare  consul. 

56 


Errors  in  English      continually 

crime 

couple  :  Does  not  mean  merely  two,  but  two  united, 
as  it  were  by  links.  Thus  a  man  and  wife  illustrate  a 
couple;  but  to  talk  of  "  a  couple  of  weeks  "  is  an  ab- 
surdit}^  for  were  t\vo  weeks  coupled  so  as  to  become 
one,  the  product  (one  week  multiplied  by  tw^o)  would 
no  longer  be  a  week  but  a  fortnight. 

couple,  two  :  Discriminate  carefully  between  these 
terms.  Couple  as  an  indefinite  amount  is  a  Teuton- 
ism  common  in  America.  Do  not  say  "  He  has  a 
couple  of  dollars  in  the  bank";  say  rather,  "  He  has 
some  money  in  the  bank."     Compare  couple. 

courage.     Compare  bravery. 

courier,  currier  :  Discriminate  carefully  between 
these  terms.  A  courier  is  a  special  messenger  sent 
express  with  letters  or  despatches ;  an  attendant  on 
a  party  of  travelers.  K  currier  \s  a  man  who  dresses 
leather  or  combs  a  horse. 

covey  :  As  this  word  means  "  a  brood  or  hatch  of 
birds,"  especially  quails  or  partridges,  it  should  not  be 
applied  to  persons  or  things  as  is  done  by  Thackeray 
in  "  The  Virginians,"  ch.  27. 

creditable  is  sometimes  confounded  with  credible, 
but  the  one  word  means  that  which  redounds  to  one's 
credit,  whereas  the  other  signifies  that  which  is 
worthy  of  belief. 

crime,  sin,  vice  ;  Exercise  care  in  the  use  of  these 
words.  Cri7ne  is  an  abstractly,  flagrant  violation  of 
law  or  morality  in  general ;   sin,  disagreement  in 

57 


crow  A   Desk-Book  of 

daisy 

word,  thought,  deed,  or  desire,  whether  by  omission 

or  commission,  with  the  divine  law  ;  vice  is  the  habit- 
ual deviation  from  moral  rectitude. 

crow,  a  colloquialism  for  exult. 

crush  implies  to  force  out  of  shape,  therefore,  it  is 
pleonastic  to  say  ^^  crush  out,''  of  a  mutiny. 

cultivation,  culture  :  Discriminate  carefully  be- 
tween these  words.  While  one  of  the  various  senses 
of  cultivation  is  culture,  culture  should  be  used  only 
of  the  development  of  the  individual. 

cunning,  meaning  '•  artful,"  and  by  extension  "  in- 
nocently artful,"  and  hence  "bright,"  "amusing," 
or  "  characterized  by  quaint  and  playful  moods," 
is  often  improperly  introduced  to  imply  "dainty," 
"  choice,"  especially  if  applied  to  anything  diminu- 
tive. Such  usage  is  not  permissible.  A  kitten  may 
properly  be  said  to  be  cmining,  but  not  a  brooch^ 
although  (in  archaic  usage)  that  may  exhibit  the 
cunning  or  skill  of  the  artificer. 

curious,  in  such  expressions  as  "  It  is  a  curious 
fact "  has  been  hypercritically  censured.  The  pro- 
priety of  the  usage  is  unquestionable.  "  Curious 
first  ....  denoted  a  state  of  mind,  interest  or  dili- 
gence in  inquiry  or  prosecution;  then  it  was  pred- 
icated of  things  which  exhibit  evident  tokens  of  care 
{cura),  dextrous  application,  ingenuity;  and,  as  such 
things  are  out  of  the  common  and  are  apt  to  arrest 
attention,  it  naturally  acquired  the  sense  of  '  novel,' 


Errors  in  English  crow 

daisy 

'unusual,'  or  more  generally  'novel  and  notice- 
able.' " — FiTZEDWARD  Hall,  Fdlse  F/iHology,  p.  25. 

cuss  :  A  vulgar  corruption  of  "  curse,"  designa- 
ting a  worthless  or  disagreeable  person,  and  as  such 
it  should  be  avoided. — To  cuss  and  swear,  that  is, 
"to  use  blasphemous  language"  is  a  phrase  that 
also  should  be  avoided  by  persons  having  preten- 
sions to  refinement. 

custom,  habit  :  It  is  the  cicstom  of  a  person  to  do 
a  thing  until  it  becomes  a  habit.  From  a  voluntary 
act  of  the  will  it  has  grown  into  an  involuntary'  prac- 
tise. It  will  thus  be  seen  that  whereas  a  custom  is 
followed,  a /z^<^// is  acquired.  Moreover,  as  involun- 
tary acts  are  not  predicated  of  bodies  of  people, 
habits  are  of  necessity  compared  to  individuals, 
*'  The  custom  of  social  nipping  tends  to  individual 
habits  of  dissipation." 

customs.     Compare  excise. 

cut  it  out,  with  the  sense  "  eliminate,"  is  of  recent 
introduction  and  may  be  characterized  as  expressive 
though  inelegant. 

cute,  which  is  an  abbreviation  of  acute  and  means 
*'  shrewd,  smart,  clever,  or  bright  "  is  a  colloquialism, 
and  as  such  is  not  favored  in  certain  literary  circles. 

D 

daisy  :  A  slang  Intensive,  and  as  an  equivalent 
for  "fine"  or  "charming,"  applied  to  persons  and 

^9. 


damage  A  Desk-Book  of 

deduction 

things,  sometimes  carelessly  as  "  a  daisy  time,"  for 

"  a  pleasant  time."     In  speaking  of  a  woman,  "  Ain't 

she  a  daisy  "  is  a  vulgar  way  of  saying  "  Isn't  she 

charming." 

damage  should  never  be  used  for  *'  cost "  or 
"  charge."  Datnage  is  injury  or  harm  as  to  char- 
acter, person,  or  estate ;  cost  and  charge  involve  or 
imply  expenditure  of  money. 

dance,  to  lead  one  a :  A  colloquialism  for  ''  to 
divert  one  from  a  desired  course,  and  thus  create 
delay  in  its  accomplishment."  There  is  but  little  in 
the  expression  to  recommend  it. 

dander  is  a  vulgarism  for  "  anger  "  and  as  such 
should  not  be  used. 

dangerous  :  Avoid  the  vulgar  use  of  this  term  in 
the  sense  of  "  dangerously  ill."  A  man  near  death 
may  be  dangerously  ill,  but  he  can  not  be  dangerous, 

dare,  durst  or  dared,  daring  :  "  You  daresn't " 
**  he  durstn't  "  are  frequently  used — the  former  al- 
ways incorrectly,  the  latter  generally  so;  for  in  nine 
cases  out  of  ten,  where  the  expression  is  used,  the 
speaker  desires  to  signify  the  present  and  not  the 
past.  The  form  is  inelegant,  but  under  certain  con- 
ditions may  be  grammatically  correct.  You  dare 
not;  he  dares  not  (daresn't):  this  for  the  present. 
In  \\m^  past  only,  he  durst  not  (or  durstn't). 

dead,  deceased  :  Discriminate  between  these 
words.     One  may  refer  correctly  to  a  dead  man  or  a 


Errors  in   English  damage 

deduction 

dead  horse,  but  the  word  deceased  is  appHed  correctly 

only  to  human  beings. 

dead  slow  :  A  colloquialism  for  "  lacking  in  spirit 
or  liveliness,  dull  or  tedious ;  "  applied  indiscrimi- 
nately to  persons  or  things. 

deal:  Used  sometimes  loosely  for  serve.  Do  not 
say  ''  Deal  the  potatoes ;  "  here  serve  is  preferable. 

debase.     Compare  demean. 

decease  should  never  be  used  as  a  verb. 

deceive  :  Deception  implies  the  production  of  a 
false  impression.  It  is  necessary,  therefore,  to  dis- 
tinguish between  the  accomplishment  of  this  object 
and  the  bare  attempt.  Yet  one  frequently  hears  the 
expression  "  he  is  deceiving  me,"  when  it  is  clear  that 
(as  the  attempt  is  unsuccessful)  the  idea  intended 
to  be  conveyed  is  "  he  is  attempting  to  deceive  me." 

decided,  decisive  :  These  terms  are  not  exactly 
synonymous.  A  decided  fact  is  one  that  is  unmistak- 
able and  beyond  dispute ;  a  decisive  fact  is  one  that 
terminates  a  discussion.  A  decided  victory  is  not 
necessarily  a  battle  decisive  of  a  campaign. 

deduction  is  frequently  confounded  with  induc- 
tion. The  in-  mounts  up  from  facts  to  law  and 
is  the  process  of  inferring  general  conclusions  from 
particular  cases ;  the  de-  descends  from  law  to  facts 
and  is  that  which  is  deduced  from  premises  or  prin- 
ciples. Liductio?i  is  termed  analysis ;  deduction^  syn- 
thesis. 

6J 


deface  A   Desk-Book  of 

die 

deface,  disfigure  :  Discriminate  between  these 
words.  Persons  deface  things,  for  to  deface  impUes 
a  dehberate  act  of  destruction ;  but  disfiguratio?i  may 
take  place  to  person  or  thing  by  the  operation  of 
either.  Thus,  an  inscription  or  bond  is  defaced,  but 
facial  beauty  is  disfigured  by  smallpox  or  the  weight 
of  care. 

delicious,  delightful :  These  terms  should  be  used 
with  discrimination.  Delicious  is  correctly  applied  to 
pleasures  of  the  senses  ;  delightful  to  that  which 
charm.s,  gratifies,  or  gives  pleasure.  A  dish  may  be 
delicious,  but  not  delighful;  an  entertainment  may  be 
delightful^  but  is  certainly  not  delicious. 

delusion,  illusion  :  Discriminate  carefully  between 
these  terms.  A  delusion  is  a  mental  error  arising 
from  false  views  or  an  unbalanced  state  of  mind  ;  an 
illusion  is  an  unreal  image  which  is  presented  to  the 
senses.     A  mirage  is  an  optical  illusion. 

demean  signifies  "  to  behave "  and  does  not 
mean  debase  or  degrade.  A  man  demeans  (i.  e.j 
comports)  himself  as  a  gentleman  ;  but  even  if  he 
should  demean  himself  as  a  churl,  the  verb  would  not 
imply  a  lowering  of  his  dignity  or  debasement ;  his 
debasement  would  result  alone  from  the  conduct 
he  pursued. 

denominate.     Compare  nominate. 

depositary,  depository :  Discriminated  in  the  best 
usage,  depositary  denoting  a  person  with  whom,  and 


Errors  in   English  deface 

die 

depository  a  place  in  which  anything  is  deposited  for 

safe-keeping. 

depravation,  depravity  :  These  terms  are  not  syn- 
onymous.  Depravation  is  the  act  or  process  of  de- 
praving or  corrupting ;  depravity  is  the  condition  of 
being  depraved. 

desert.     Compare  abandon. 

desert,  dessert :  Discriminate  carefully  between 
these  words.  A  desert  is  a  barren  waste  ;  an  uncul- 
tivated and  uninhabited  wilderness  ;  a  dessert  is  a 
service,  as  of  fruits  or  sweetmeats,  at  the  close  of  a 
dinner. 

despatch  :  This  word  may  be  spelt  correctly  either 
"  despatch  "  or  "  dispatch,"  notwithstanding  the  fact 
that  some  writers  condemn  the  word  "  dispatch." 

develop  is  to  "  unfold  "or  "  bring  to  light  by  de- 
grees "  and  should  not  be  used  for  "  expose  "  vv'hich 
means  to  "  reveal  or  lay  bare,"  without  regard  to 
manner. 

device,  devise  :  Discriminate  carefully  between 
these  words.  A  dei^ice  is  something  designed,  in- 
vented, or  constructed  for  a  special  purpose  or  for 
promoting  an  end,  and  may  be  used  in  either  a  good 
or  bad  sense.  A  devise  is  a  gift  of  lands  by  a  last 
will  and  testament.     Compare  bequest. 

die  :  A  word  often  misapplied  especially  by  per- 
sons accustomed  to  use  inane  superlatives  as  "  She 
died  with  laughing  " ;  "I  thought  she'd  have  died.'' 

63 


difference  A    Desk-Book   of 

dissociate 

Die^  as  a  hyperbole,  means,  "  to  have  a  great  desire 

for,"  and  this  sense  is  an  undesirable  perversion. 

difference  :  Careful  note  should  be  made  of  the 
appropriate  prepositions.  The  Standard  Diction- 
ary says  :  ''  Difference  between  the  old  and  the  new  ; 
differences  a?nong  men ;  a  difference  in  character ;  of 
action,  of  style  ;  (less  frequently)  a  difference  (con- 
troversy) with  a  person  ;  a  difference  of  one  thing 
from  (incorrectly  to)  another." 

different  from  :  Differeiit  to,  though  common  in 
England,  is  not  sustained  by  good  authority.  The 
best  literary  usage  is  uniformly  f'07n,  following  the 
analogy  of  the  verb  differ;  one  thing  differs  from  or 
is  different  from  another. 

differ  from,  differ  with  :  One  thing  may  differyr^;/2 
another,  or  one  person  may  diR^rfrom  another,  as  in 
physique  ;  but  one  person  may  differ  with  another 
in  opinion. 

dippy  :  An  extreme  vulgarism  for  "  mentally  un- 
balanced." 

direct  should  not  be  used  where  address  is 
intended.  Do  not  say  "  Direct  your  letters  to  me 
at  Cook's  ;  "  say,  rather,  "  Address  your  letters," 
etc. 

directly,  which  means  *'  in  a  direct  or  straight 
course  or  manner,"  and  so  "without  medium,"  has 
not  unnaturally  been  extended  to  signify  "  without 
medium    or    intervention   of    time;     immediately." 

64 


Errors  in  English         diflerence 

dissociate 
American  critics  have  objected  to  this  use,  but  in 
England  it  is  popular. 

disappoint.  :  Since  disappoint  implies  frustration  or 
defeat,  one  cannot  be  agreeably  disappointed ;  rather 
agreeably  surprised. 

discharge.     Compare  assume. 

discreet,  discrete  :  Both  words  are  derived  from 
the  Latin  discretus,  pp.  of  discer?to,  dis  +  cerno^  separate, 
and  formerly  discreet  was  also  spelt  discrete,  and  even 
had  the  meaning  of  "  separate,  distinct,"  which  sense 
now  belongs  exclusively  to  discrete.  Discreet  is  used 
with  the  signification  of  "  evincing  discernment, 
judicious,  prudent." 

discern,  discriminate  :  The  latter  word  is  often 
treated  as  synonymous  with  distinguish,  and  there  is 
etymological  reason  for  this,  as  both  words  mean  to 
separate,  but  to  discern  is  to  "  distinguish  by  the  dif- 
ference or  dLfferences  ;  differentiate."  "  What  we 
discern  we  see  apart  from  all  other  objects  ;  what  we 
discriftiifiate  we  judge  apart,  or  recognize  by  some 
special  mark  or  manifest  difference.  We  discrimi- 
nate hy  real  differences ;  we  distinguish  by  outward 
signs." 

disfigure.     Compare  deface. 

disremember  :  Avoid  this  term  as  provincial  and 
archaic,  and  msq  forget  instead. 

dissociate  is  preferable  to  disassociate ;  for  associ- 
ate is  from  the  Latin  ad,  to,  +  socius,  united,  whereas 

65 


distinguish      A  Desk-Boolc  of 

dose 

dissL  date  is  from  the  Latin  dis-,  used  with  separative 
force,  and  socius.  Disassociate  is  therefore  nothing 
more  or  less  than  uniting  to  and  at  the  same  time 
severing  from.  The  word,  then,  though  used,  is 
illogically  formed  and  should  be  avoided. 

distinguish.     See  discriminate. 

divers,  diverse  ;  By  inattentive  persons  not  in- 
frequently interchanged.  Divers  implies  severalty  ; 
diverse,  difference.  Hence  we  say ;  "  The  Evangel- 
ists narrate  events  in  divers  manners,"  but  "The 
views  of  the  two  parties  were  quite  diverse." 

do  :  Often  used  unnecessarily.  Do  not  say,  "  I 
shall  succeed  as  others  have  done  before  me."  Here 
*'  done  "  is  pleonastic.  But  do  may  be  used  where  it 
is  purely  auxiliary  to  a  missing  verb,  as  "  I  shall 
succeed  as  others  do  "  (succeed). 

dock  is  not  a  synonym  for  wharf  although  it  is 
often  used  as  such.  The  dock  is  water,  the  wharf 
is  the  abutting  land  or  landing. 

Dock  is  by  many  persons  used  to  mean  a  wharf 
or  pier  ;  thus  :  "  He  fell  off  the  dock  and  was 
drowned  ....  A  man  might  fall  into  a  dock ;  but 
to  say  that  he  fell  off  a  dock  is  no  better  than  to  say 
that  he  fell  off  a  hole."— R.  G.  White,  Words  and 
Their  Uses,  ch.  5.  p.  107. 

donate  :  Incorrectly  used  as  simply  meaning  give. 
As  meaning  to  bestow  as  a  gift  or  donation,  it  has 
been   vehemently   objected  to  by  some   critics,  but 

66 


Errors  in  English      distinguish 

dose 
the  word  has  certainly  acquired  a  place  in  popular 
use,  and  is  no  more  rendered  unnecessary  by  the 
previous  existence  of  give  than  donation  is  by  the 
previous  existence  of  gift.  Donate  should  be  used 
of  the  bestowal  of  important,  ceremonious,  or  official 
gifts  only. — Standard  Dictionary. 

done  :  Avoid  using  the  past  participle  of  verbs 
instead  of  the  imperfect.  Do  not  say,  "  You  done 
it,"  or  "you  seen  it,"  when  you  mean  "you  did'it,''^ 
or  ^^yo\isa7v  it."  Nor  use  the  past  tense  for  the 
perfect  participle,  as  in,  "  If  you  had  came  "  when 
you  mean  "  If  you  had  come."*^ 

don't  is  a  contraction  of  do  not,  and  in  this  sense 
Is  permissible  ;  but  as  signifying  does  ?iot,  the  proper 
contraction  for  which  is  does?i^t-,  its  use  is  inaccurate. 
In  writing,  the  uncontracted  forms  are  much  to 
be  preferred,  though  in  conventional  speech  the 
abbreviations  are  accepted. 

don*t  believe,  don't  think  :  "  I  dofi't  believe  I'll 
go  "  ;  "I  do7iU  thi?ik  it  will  rain  "  ;  solecisms  now  in 
almost  universal  use.  Say,  rather,  "  I  believe  I  will 
not  go"  ;  "  I  think  it  will  not  rain." 

don't  make  no  error.     See  error. 

dopey:  A  vulgar  substitute  for  "sleepy;  dull; 
thick-headed.'^ 

dose,  doze  :  Discriminate  carefully  between  these 
words.  That  which  a  physician  prescribes  is  a  dose; 
that  which  a  sleepy  patient  may  fall  into  is  a  doze. 

67 


do  tell  A  Desk-Book  of 

Dutch 

do  tell !  An  exclamation  of  surprise  the  equivalent 
of  which  is  "  Is  it  possible  1 " — an  inane  provincialism 
to  be  avoided. 

doubt.     See  whether. 

doubt  but  that :  In  this  phrase  but  is  superiluous 
as  it  does  not  add  anything  to  the  sense. 

dozen  :  Exercise  care  in  writing  or  uttering  this 
word.  If  a  number  precedes,  then  dozeii  forms  the 
correct  plural :  if  not,  the  plural  is  formed  by  adding 
an  s.  Say  "  six  dozen  sheep,"  but  "  many  dozens  of 
cattle." 

draft,  draught :  Exercise  care  in  using  these  words. 
A  draft  is  an  order  drawn  by  one  person  or  firm  on 
another  for  the  payment  of  money  to  a  third ;  a 
draught  is  a  current  of  air  passing  through  a  channel 
or  entering  by  an  aperture.  These  words  are  pro- 
nounced alike  and  modern  American  practise  favors 
the  spelling  of  draft  for  both. 

drive  :  Critics  have  seen  fit  to  cavil  at  the  dis- 
tinction between  drive  and  ride,  objecting  that  the 
coachman  drives  the  lady,  and  asking  whether  travel- 
ing by  train  or  trolley-car  is  a  ride  or  drive.  The  pop- 
ular idea  is  that  one  rides  in  a  public  conveyance 
but  drives  when  in  a  private  carriage.  As  a  mat- 
ter of  convenience,  however,  the  old-time  distinction 
so  far  as  it  concerns  riding  on  horseback  and  drivifzg 
in  a  carriage  is  good,  and  in  no  way  encroaches  on 
the  question  of  travel  submitted.     Horse-back  exer- 

68 


Errors  in  English  do  tell 

Dutch 

cise  and  a  carriage  drive  are  essentially  exercises  for 

pleasure  and  so  not  to  be  confounded  with  travel ;  but 

if  there  were  no  distinguishing  expression  for  the 

two,  we  should  have  to  add  a  qualifying  term  to 

"ride,"  to  indicate  the  form  of  recreation  enjoyed. 

Again,  on  the  legal  principle  of  Qui  facit  per  aliiim 

facit  per  se  (He  who  does  a  thing  by  another  does  it 

himself),  the  lady  who  commissions  her  coachman  to 

drive,  is  herself  the  author  of  his  driving,  and  drives. 

drunk:  In  modern  usage  of  the  verb  this  word  is 
confined  to  the  past  participle.  It  is  therefore  not 
now  proper  to  say  ''They  drunk  his  health/*  say, 
rather,  "They  drank  his  health."  Do  not  say  "I 
have  drank"  when  you  mean  "I  have  drunk," 

dry  up!  A  vulgar  imperative  fc^r  "be  quiet"  or 
"stop  talking"  and  as  such  not  used  in  refined 
circles. 

dubersome:  Of  a  vacillating  nature,  doubtful:  an 
absurd  corruption  of  dubious  to  be  avoided. 

due,  owing:  Words  now  often  used  interchange- 
ably. Due  should  be  limited  in  its  use  to  that  which 
has  to  be  paid,  the  word  owing  being  indicative 
of  the  source  of  the  existing  condition.  An  obliga- 
tion may  be  discharged  as  being  due  to  a  man's 
estate  or  his  character.  A  man's  wealth  is  owing  to 
inheritance,  good  fortune,  toil  or  thrift. 

Dutch:  Often  misapplied  to  the  Germans  from  a 
mistaken  idea  of  the  spelling  of  the  German  word 

69 


each  A  Desk-Book  of 

either 

Deutsch.     The  Dutch  are  Hollanders,  and  the  Ger- 
mans are  ''  Deutsch  "  in  Germany. 

E 

each,  every :  These  words  should  never  be  used 
with  pronouns  or  verbs  in  the  plural. 

each  other  :  Strictly  applied  to  two  only,  whereas 
one  another  implies  more  than  two.  "  The  tAvo 
friends  congratulated  each  otJur  "  (/.  e.,  each  one  the 
other).  "  This  commandment  I  give  unto  you  that 
ye  love  one  another:'  Yet  this  expression  is  now 
used  carelessly  as  a  reciprocal  pronoun  ;  and  Whit- 
tier  writes  "  To  worship  rightly  is  to  love  each  other :^ 

effect,  affect  :  Distinguish  carefully  bet\veen  these 
terms.  To  effect  means  to  accomphsh  ;  to  affect,  to 
influence.  By  concerted  action  men  may  effect  re- 
forms which  shall  affect  their  condition. 

effluvia  :  A  word  often  used  incorrectly  from  the 
mistaken  idea  that  it  is  of  the  singular  number.  Do 
not  say  "  What  a  disagreeable  effluvia  "  when  you 
wish  to  draw  attention  to  an  unpleasant  smell.  If 
you  must  use  the  word,  say  ''  effluvium:' 

^gg.     Compare  bad. 

either:  An  adjective  denoting  "one  or  the  other 
of  two  "  often  used  incorrectly  with  a  plural  verb ; 
as,  "  Either  are  Hkely  to  sail."  Now,  inasmuch  as 
"  either  "  means  "  one  or  the  other  of  t^vo  the  verb  in 
the  sentence  should  be  in  the  singular  and  to  be 

70 


Errors  in  English  each 

either 
correct  the  sentence  should  be  "  Either  is  Ukely  to 
sail."  However,  in  its  best  and  strictest  usage  either, 
as  has  already  been  said,  means  "  one  or  the  other 
of  these,"  as,  " either  horn  of  a  dilemma"  ;  but  there 
is  authority  for  its  use  as  "any"  and  ''each  of 
two  "  or  "  both."  The  former  of  these  is,  however, 
a  distinctly  improper  use,  and  the  latter — though 
sanctioned  by  "  on  either  side  one,  and  Jesus  in  the 
midst,"  (^/ohn  xix,  i8)  is  better  left  unsaid. 

either  you  or  I  are  (am  or  is)  right  :  Which  should 
it  be  ?  You  are ;  I  am  ;  who  ^>— which  of  the  two? 
The  complete  sentence  is  clearly  "  Either  you  (are 
right)  or  I  (am  right)."  If  the  pronoun  had  been 
coupled,  as  in  "  Both  you  and  I  "  the  plural  verb 
would  of  course  follow ;  but  the  very  fact  of  this 
would  seem  to  indicate  that  where  they  are  dis- 
tinctly disjoined,  as  here,  the  verb  should  not  be  plu- 
ral and  should  therefore  be  singular.  Yet  who  could 
say  "  either  you  or  I  a7n  right."  Peculiar  as  it  is 
— it  being  impossible  to  say  either  "  you  is  "  or  "  I 
is  "  the  solution  is  to  be  found  in  the  use  of  is  ;  and 
the  correct  rendering  is,  "  Either  you  or  I — one  of 
us,^?>  right."  Dr.  Latham  cites  the  rule  thus, 
"  Wherever  the  word  either  or  neither  precedes  the 
pronouns,  the  verb  is  in  the  third  person."  He  adds 
a  second  rule  to  the  effect  that  if  the  disjunctive  is 
without  the  word  either  or  ?ieither,  then  the  verb 
agrees  with  the  first  of  the  two  pronouns.     He  would 

71 


elder  A  Desk-Book  of 

endorse 

therefore  say  "either  you  or  I  is  right,'*  but  "you 
or  I  are  right.'*  It  is,  however,  questionable  whether 
usage  bears  with  him. 

elder,  eldest ;  older,  oldest :  Discriminate  carefully 
between  these  terms.  Elder  and  eldest  are  correctly 
applied  only  to  persons  and  usually  only  to  persons 
in  the  same  family,  as,  "  his  elder  brother."  Older 
and  oldest  are  used  of  persons  or  things  without  any 
restriction ,  "  the  oldest  inhabitant " ;  "  the  older  road 
is  now  closed.'* 

elegant  :  Often  misused  for  pleasant  Elega7tt  re- 
fers to  qualities  of  refinement,  grace,  taste  or  polish. 
One  may  say  "  an  elegant  go^n  " ;  "  an  elegant  outfit  " ; 
but  not  "  an  elegant  time  "  nor  "  an  elegant  view." 

else:  E.  S.  Gould  and  certain  other  critics  take 
*»xception  to  a  possessive  use  of  this  word,  upon 
which  the  former  says  "A  comparatively  modern  and 
a  superlatively  ridiculous  custom  has  been  introduced 
by  putting  not  the  noun  but  the  adjective,  else,  in  the 
possessive  case.  .  .  .  Else,  in  the  way  it  is  used, 
means  besides  ,  .  .  [one]  might  as  well  say  some- 
body besides's,  etc.  The  proper  construction  of  the 
several  phrases  is  somebody's  else,  nobody's  else.** 

On  this  subject  the  Standard  Dictionary  says : 
"  The  expressions  some  one  else,  any  one  else,  every 
jne  else,  somebody  else,  which  are  in  good  usage, 
are  treated  as  substantive  phrases  and  have  the  pos- 
sessive inflection   upon  else ;  as,   somebody  else's  urn- 

72 


Errors  in   English  elder 

endorse 

brella ;  but  some  people  prefer  to  treat  them  as  ellip- 
tical expressions  ;  as,  the  umbrella  is  somebody" s  else 
(/.  (?.,  other  than  the    person  previously  mentioned).** 

embryo  :  The  plural  of  this  word  is  formed  by  the 
adding  of  "  s  "  not  "  es  "  as  va  potatoes. 

emerge,  immerge  :  Discriminate  carefully  betsveen 
ihese  terms.  To  emerge  is  to  come  out  of ;  issue  or 
proceed  from  something;  to  reappear  as  in  a  new 
state;  as,  "the  butterfly  e??ierges  from  the  chrysalis." 
To  immerge  is  to  plunge  into  anything,  especially  a 
fluid ;  or  to  disappear ;  as,  "  some  heavenly  bodies 
imvierge  in  the  light  of  the  sun." 

emigrant,  immigrant :  These  words  are  to  be 
carefully  distinguished  with  regard,  not  to  the  person 
but  to  the  country  from  which  or  to  which  a  person 
comes.  The  e  =  ex,  out  of ;  the  /w  =  in,  into.  The 
emigrant  ixQ>vi\  Ireland  is  an  immigrant  when  he  lands 
in  New  York. 

eminent,  imminent :  Discriminate  carefully  be- 
tween these  words.  Emiiwit  means  distinguished, 
prominent,  conspicuous.  Ii7i77iine?it  means  impend- 
ing; threatening. 

endorse,  indorse  ;  From  the  Latin  in,  on,  and  dor- 
sum, back,  means  to  write  or  place  upon  the  back  of. 
It  is  therefore  pleonastic  to  say,  as  is  frequently 
done,  "  indorse  on  the  back  of." 

The  spelling  indorse  which  follows  the  medieval 
Latin   is  that   preferred  in  law  and  commerce;  en- 

73 


enjoy  A  Desk-Book  of 

evacuate 

dorse,  a  spelling  which  follows  middle  English  anal- 
og}^  is  the  preferred  form  according  to  literary 
usage. 

enjoy :  A  word  often  misused.  Do  not  say 
"  I  enjoy  bad  health  "  nor  *'I  enjoy  good  health," 
when  you  suffer  from  illness  or  are  in  a  per- 
fect state  of  health.  One  enjoys  health  (here 
good  is  superfluous),  but  how  can  one  e?ijoy  bad 
health  ? 

enthuse,  said  to  be  of  journalistic  origin,  is  char- 
acterized as  slang  by  the  Standard  Dictionary, 
meaning  "  manifest  enthusiasm  or  delight." 

enthusiast,  fanatic :  Discriminate  carefully  be- 
tween these  words.  An  enthusiast  is  one  who  is 
ardently  zealous  in  any  pursuit ;  a  fanatic  is  one 
whose  mind  is  imbued  with  excessive  or  extravagant 
notions  on  religious  subjects. 

epithet:  Often  misused  from  the  mistaken  idea 
that  an  epithet  must  necessarily  be  opprobrious  in 
character  or  imply  opprobrium.  An  epithet  is  an 
adjective  or  a  phrase  or  word  used  adjectively  to  de- 
scribe some  quality  or  attribute  of  its  object,  as  in 
"  a  benevolent  man,"  ''Father  ^neas,"  "  benevolent " 
and  "  father  "  are  epithets. 

equally  as  well :  An  erroneous  phrase  rendered 
correctly  equally  well.  The  introduced  conjunction 
has  no  grammatical  place  in  the  sentence,  the  mean- 
ing of  which  is  clear  without  it. 

•^4 


Errors  in  English  enjoy 

evacuate 

equanimity  of  mind.  A  pleonasm  since  equa^ 
nimity  means  *'  evenness  of  mind^ 

error,  don't  you  make  no :  An  ungrammatical  and 
therefore  incorrect  phrase  sometimes  used  to  assert 
a  fact ;  say,  rather,  "make  no  error." 

eruption,  irruption :  Discriminate  carefully  be- 
tween these  words.  An  eruptio7t  is  a  bursting  forth 
as  from  inclosure  or  confinement.  An  irruption  is  a 
sudden  incursion ;  an  invasion. 

eternal,  everlasting :  Distinguish  carefully  betvveen 
these  words.  That  which  is  eternal  is  without  be- 
ginning or  end ;  that  which  is  everlasting  is  without 
end  only. 

euphemism.     Compare  euphuism. 

euphuism  is  often  improperly  used  for  euphemism. 
Added  to  the  Greek  eu,  well,  is  phye,  nature,  in  the 
former,  dindphemi,  speak,  in  the  latter.  The  former 
is  general  and  denotes  a  st}'le,  an  affectation  of 
speech  or  writing,  whereas  euphe7?iism  is  particular 
and  denotes  a  figure  of  speech. 

evacuate  should  be  distinguished  from  vacate. 
Evaacate  does  not  mean  to  go  away  but  to  make 
empt}^;  and  when  the  word  is  used  in  regard  to 
military  movements,  evacuation  is  a  mere  conse- 
quence, result,  or  at  most,  concomitant  of  the  going 
away  of  the  garrison.  (R.  G.  White,  Words  and 
T7ieir  Uses,  ch.  5,  p.  109.)  To  vacate  is  to  surrender 
possession  by  removal. 

T5 


event  A  Desk-Book  of 

evidence 

event:  Care  should  be  exercised  in  the  use  of 
this  word.  It  means  strictly  a  happening ;  that 
which  happens  or  comes  to  pass  as  distinguished 
from  a  thing  that  exists.  In  interlocutory  proceed- 
ings a  defendant  was  granted  costs  (which  hap- 
pened to  be  considerable)  in  any  event.  The 
plaintiff  was  shrewd  enough  to  drop  all  further 
proceedings,  and  consequently  there  was  no  evetit  so 
the  heavy  costs  which  he  would  have  had  to  pay  fell 
upon  his  opponent. 

eventuate :  Although  some  writers  condemn  the 
use  of  this  word  as  a  synonym  for  "  happen  "  the 
use  is  recorded  by  modern  dictionaries  and  may  be 
considered  good  English.  Originally  and  in  a  re- 
stricted sense  eventuate  meant  "  to  culminate  in  some 
result  ";  now,  it  means  also  "  to  be  the  issue  of." 

even  up  :  A  slang  expression  much  used  in  the 
South  and  West  to  signify  "  get  even  with ;  exact 
compensation  from  "  :  an  undesirable  phrase. 

ever  :  Where  ever  is  intended  to  be  used  as  an 
adverb  of  degree  and  not  an  adverb  of  time,  it  is 
improper  to  substitute  never  {xiot  ever)  for  the  word. 
If  the  substitution  be  made,  it  must  be  with  the  un- 
derstanding that  the  thought  of  the  sentence  is 
changed  from  degree  lo  time.  "  If  he  run  ever  so 
well,  he  can  not  win  "  is  not  correctly  expressed  by 
"  If  he  run  7iever  so  well,"  etc.,  unless  the  thought 
intended  to  be  conveyed  is  "  If   he  run,  and  run  so 

76 


Errors  in  English  event 

evidence 
well,  as  jiei'er  in  his  life  befcre,  he  can  not  win." 
The  tendency  has  been  to  use  both  ez>er  so  and  tiever 
so  loosely  and  vaguely. 

ever  so :  The  phrases  ez'er  so  great,  little,  much, 
many,  etc.,  meaning  '•  very  "  or  "  exceedingly  great," 
etc.,  may  be  carefully  discriminated  from  fiez'er  so 
great,  little,  etc.,  meaning  *'  inconceivably  great, 
little,"  etc.      Compare  never  so. 

every  :  A  collective  pronominal  singular  that  is 
sometimes  incorrectly  used  with  a  verb  in  the  plural. 
Do  not  say  "  Every  passenger  of  the  two  hundred 
aboard  were  detained  at  the  dock."  Say,  rather, 
"  Every  passenger  .  .  .  was  detained." 

every  confidence  :  The  phrase  is  objected  to  by 
some  critics  on  the  ground  that  "  every  is  distributive, 
referring  to  a  number  of  things  that  may  be  consid- 
ered separately,  while  confidence  is  used  as  a  mass- 
noun."  The  adjective,  therefore,  as  signifying  rt'// or 
entire,  is  not  permitted,  though  the  phrase  is  accepted 
by  many  as  being  elliptical,  the  words  "  sort  of  " 
being  understood  after  every  ;  but  implicit  confidence  is 
a  preferable  phrase. 

every  which  way  :  A  pleonastic  colloquialism  for 
"  every  way  "  ;  "  in  all  directions  "  ;  either  of  which 
phrases  may  be  used  in  preference. 

evidence,  testimony :  These  words  are  often  used 
as  if  they  were  interchangeable.  Greenleaf  says 
"  lestimony,  from  the  Latin,  testis,  a  witness,  is,  how- 

77 


evident  A  Desk-Book  of 

exemplary 

ever,  only  a  species  of  evidence  through  the  medium 
of  witnesses.     The  word  ez'idence,  in  legal   accepta- 
tion, includes   all  the   means  by  which  any   alleged 
matter  of  fact,  the  truth  of  which  is  submitted  to  in- 
vestigation, is  established  or  disproved."     (Evidence, 
vol.  i.  ch.  I,  p.  3.)     Again  '' Evide?ice  rests  upon  our 
faith  in  human  testimony,  as  sanctioned  by  experience'* 
(vol.  i.  ch.  10,  p.  70).     We  may  have  the  testimony  of 
a  traveler  that  a  fugitive  passed  his  way  ;  but  his 
footprints  in  the  sand  are  ei'idefice  of  the  fact, 
evident.     Compare  apparent. 
exasperate.     Compare  aggravate. 
executer,    executor :    Discriminate    carefully   be- 
tween these  words.     An  executer  is  one  who  performs 
some  act ;  a  doer.     An  executor  is  one  who  in  law 
administers  an  estate. 

exceed,  excel :  Formerly  exceed  (from  the  Latin 
ex,  forth,  4-  cedo,  go,  =  to  go  beyond  the  mark)  had 
for  one  of  its  meanings  excel  ( from  the  Latin  ex,  out, 
H-  celsus.  raised,  =  to  go  beyond  in  something  good 
or  praiseworthy ;  outdo).  Now  these  words  must  be 
distinguished.  This  is  to  be  particularly  noted  in 
the  derivatives  excessive  and  excellmt — the  former 
signif}'ing  an  excess  in  that  which  ought  not  to  be 
exceeded,  the  latter  in  that  where  it  is  praiseworthy 
to  exceed.  It  is,  therefore,  not  correct  to  speak  of 
weather  as  being  excessively  cold  ;  say  rather,  very  or 
exceedingly  cold. 

7a 


Errors  in  English  evident 

exemplary 

except,  unless  :  These  words  are  not  synonymous. 
Avoid  such  locutions  as  "  You  will  not  enjoy  it  except 
you  earn  it."  Say  rather,  "You  will  not  enjoy  it 
unless  you  earn  it." 

exceptionable  is  to  be  distinguished  from  excep- 
tional. Exceptionable  conduct  is  that  which  is  out  of 
the  common  and  forms  the  exception  to  the  rule. 

excise,  customs,  tolls  :  Distinguish  from  each 
other.     Mill  in  his  "  Political  Economy  "  says  : 

"  Taxes  on  commodities  are  either  on  production 
within  the  country,  or  on  importation  into  it,  or  on 
conveyance  or  sale  within  it,  and  are  classed  re- 
spectively as  excise^  custo^ns,  or  tolls  and  transit 
duties."     (bk.  v.  ch.  3,  p.  562.) 

Thus,  excise  is  a  charge  on  commodities  of  do- 
mestic production ;  customs  is  a  charge  or  duty  as- 
sessed by  law  levied  on  goods  imported  or  exported  ; 
tolls  are  charges  for  special  privileges  as,  passing  over 
a  bridge  or  a  turnpike. 

excite,  incite  :  Exercise  care  in  the  use  of  these 
words.  Excite  means  to  produce  agitation  or  great 
stir  of  feeling  in ;  incite  is  to  rouse  to  a  particular 
action. 

exemplary  should  not  be  used  for  "  excellent." 
That  which  is  exemplary  serves  as  a  model  or  an  ex- 
ample worthy  of  imitation :  that  which  is  excellent 
possesses  distinctive  merit  or  excels  that  which  is 
good  or  praiseworthy. 

79 


exodus  A  Desk-Book  ot 

farther 

exodus  :  Sometimes  misused  for  exit  or  departure. 
Do  not  say  "  I  made  a  hasty  exodus " ;  say,  rather, 
"  My  exit  (or  departure)  was  hasty." 

expect  is  commonly  misused  for  think^  believe^  sup- 
pose ;  also  for  suspect.  Expect  refers  to  the  future, 
not  to  the  past  or  present,  usually  with  the  implica- 
tion of  interest  or  desire.  Yet  "  I  expect  it  is,"  or 
even  *'  I  expect  it  was^^''  is  very  common. 

expect  likely,  expect  probably.  The  Standard 
Dictionary  says  of  these  careless  locutions,  it  is  not 
the  expectancy,  but  the  future  event,  that  is  likely  or 
probable.  One  may  say  "  I  think  it  is  likely,''  "  I  think 
it  [the  act,  event,  or  the  like]  probable''  or  "It  seems 
likely  "  or  '•^probable."  When  another  person's  ex- 
pectancy is  matter  of  conjecture,  one  may  say  "  You 
probably  expect  to  live  many  years  "  ;  /.  ^.,  "  I  think  it 
probable  that  you  expect''  etc. ;  but  *'  Probably  you 
expect,"  etc.,  would  be  better. 

F 

face  the  music  :  Slang  for  to  confront  with  bold- 
ness anything  of  an  unpleasant  character  or  any 
task  especially  difficult :  a  metonymic  but  inelegant 
phrase. 

fade  away:  In  modern  parlance  a  slang  phrase 
first  introduced  by  Thackeray  (  Vanity  Fair,  ch.  60, 
p.  540),  and  meaning  "  disappear  or  vanish  mysteri 
ously."     The  phrase  is  in  good   usage,  however,  in 


Errors  in  English  exodus 

farther 

the  sense  of  "to  pass  away  gradually;  vanish  ;   die 

out ;  "   as,  "  reHgious  animosity  would  of  itself  fade 

aivay"  (Macaulay,  Hist,  of  England,  vol.  2,  p.  134). 

faint,  feint,  and  fei^  all  come  from  the  French, 
feindre,  which  is  derived  from  the  Latin,  yf//^^,  shape. 
The  first  two,  similarly  pronounced,  have  verj'  differ- 
ent significations.  Famt  means  a  sudden  loss  of 
consciousness  or  swoon  ;  fehit  signifies  a  deceptive 
move  or  pretense,  ^o  feign  is  to  make  a  false  show 
of ;  pretend. 

fake  :  Slang  term  for  imposition ;  fraud ;  also, 
fictitious  or  manufactured  news.  Expressive  but  in- 
elegant. 

fakement :  Slang  for  an  act  of  fraud.  Less  desir- 
able than  preceding  and  equally  inelegant. 

fanatic.     Compare  enthusiast. 

farewell :   When  separated  by  a  "^xonovi^  farewell 

is  written  as  two  words  ;  as,  fare  you  well.    Exception 

has  been  taken  to  Eyron's  pathetic  lines 

Fare  thee  well,  and  if  for  ever, 
Then  for  e\ex,fare  thee  well; 

but  this  is  hypercriticism  for  here   the  pronoun  is 
nothing  but  the  Anglo-Saxon  dative. 

farther,  further  :  Farther  should  be  used  to  des- 
ignate longitudinal  distance ;  further  to  signify 
quantity  or  degree.  Thus,  "  How  much  farther 
have  we  to  go  ?  "   "  Proceed  no  further  along  that 


course. " 


81 


fault  A  Desk-Book  of 

fermentation 

fault :  The  different  meanings  of  this  word  should 
be  clearly  distinguished.  A  man  perplexed  or  one 
who  has  made  a  mistake  is  at  fault ;  if  he  has  done 
anything  for  which  he  may  be  blamed  he  is  in  fault. 
A  hound  is  at  fault  when  he  has  lost  the  scent. 

faun,  fawn  :  Homophones  each  with  a  distinct 
meaning.  Miun  is  from  the  Latin  Famius,  god  of 
agriculture  and  of  shepherds,  and  signifies  a  god  of 
the  woods  ;  fawn,  from  the  Anglo  S^xon  faegen,  fain, 
signifies  to  seek  favor  by  cringing  and  subserviency. 

favor  in  the  sense  of  "  resemble  "  is  a  colloquial- 
ism, the  use  of  which  is  not  recommended. 

faze,  feeze:  Slang  terms  for  "disconcert"  or 
"confuse,"  either  of  which  is  to  be  preferred. 

feel  to  :  A  colloquial  expression  meaning  "  to  have 
an  impulse ;  '*  as  "  I  feel  to  agree  with  you,"  which 
can  not  be  too  severly  condemned. 

feel  bad,  feel  badly :  Discriminate  carefully  be- 
tween these  terms.  If  you  mean  to  express  the  idea 
that  you  are  ailing  in  health,  feel  bad  is  correct. 
Feel  bad  is  synonymous  with  feel  ill  and  is  correct. 
One  might  as  well  sdij  feel  illy  2.^  feel  badly  if  the  latter 
were  correct  as  applied  to  health.  However,  feel 
badly  is  correct  when  the  intention  is  to  say  that 
one's  power  of  touch  is  defective  as  through  a  mis- 
hap to  the  fingers. 

feel  good,  feel  well  :  Distinguish  carefully  be- 
tw^een  these  phrases.     Good  signifies  having  physical 

82 


Errors  in  English  fault 

fermentation 
qualities  that  are  useful,  or  that  can  be  made  pro- 
ductive of  comfort,  satisfaction,  or  enjoyment,  as,  a 
good  view,  good  flour ;  well  signifies  having  physical 
health,  free  from  ailment ;  as,  "  two  are  sick,  the 
rest  are  well.''''     Compare  good. 

felicitate,  congratulate  :  The  distinction  in  the 
meanings  of  these  words  should  be  carefully  noted. 
To  felicitate  is  to  pronounce  one  happy  and  in  the 
strict  sense,  applies  to  self  alone  ;  congratulate  is  to 
wish  joy  to  another.  In  recent  years  co?igratulate 
has  been  applied  to  one's  self,  and  felicitate  to  an- 
other ;  thus  the  application  of  the  meanings  of  these 
words  have  been  reversed  by  careless  usage. 

Trench  says,  "When  I  co7igratulate  a  person  (^con- 
gratulor)  I  declare  that  I  am  sharer  in  his  joy,  that 
what  has  rejoiced  him  has  rejoiced  me  also."  Gratu- 
lation,  does  not  signify  participation,  and  therefore,  is 
a  mexQ  felicitation  (or  admission  of  existing  happiness 
or  cause  for  happiness)  addressed  to  another. 

female :  An  opprobrious  or  contemptuous  epithet 
for  woman.  Female  should  be  restricted  to  its  cor- 
rect use.  Do  not  say  "  With  that  modesty  so  char- 
acteristic of  a  female  "  ;  say  rather,  "...  so  char- 
acteristic of  a  woman."     Compare  lady. 

fermentation,  fomentation  :  Exercise  care  in  the 
use  of  these  words.  Fermentation  is  a  chemical  de- 
composition of  an  organic  compound  ;  fojneyUatvm, 
is  the  act  of  treating^  with  warm  water. 

83 


fetch  A  Desk-Book  of 

first 

fetch.     Compare  bring. 

few  :  Sometimes  used  incorrectly  for  "  in  some 
measure  " ;  "  to  an  extent " ;  "  somewhat "  ;  "  rather  "  ; 
as,  "  Did  you  enjoy  yourself  ?  "  "  Just  a_/^7£/."  Few 
is  correctly  applied  to  quantity  and  incorrectly  to 
quality  ;  therefore,  its  use  as  in  the  illustration  given 
here  is  not  good  English. 

few  and  a  few  must  not  be  confounded.  "  Few 
men  would  act  thus  "  means  that  scarcely  any  would ; 
but  "  A  few  men  will  always  speak  the  truth  "  means 
that  there  are  some,  though  not  many,  whose  custom 
this  is. 

few,  little  ;  The  first  of  these  words  is  sometimes 
improperly  used  for  the  second.  Measurement  by 
count  is  expressed  hy  few,  measurement  by  quantity 
by  little;  as,  "  the  loss  of  a  few  soldiers  will  make  but 
Httle  difference  to  the  result."  ''  The  fewer  his  ac- 
quaintances, the  fewer  (not  the  less)  his  enemies.'' 
Few^  fewer,  fewest,  are  correctly  used  in  describing 
articles  the  aggregate  of  which  is  expressed  in  num- 
bers; little,  less,  and  least  are  used  of  objects  that 
are  spoken  of  in  bulk. 

figure  :  E.  S.  Gould  and  other  critics  object  to  the 
use  of  the  word  in  the  sense  of  an  amount  stated  in 
numbers,  as  "  Goods  at  a  high  figure.''^  But  Dean 
Alford  is  content  to  give  his  sanction  to  its  use, 
and  the  literary  and  general  public  have  followed 
him. 

84 


Errors    in    English  fetch 

first 

final :  Sometimes  misused  in  such  a  sentence  as 
"the  Jinal  completion  of  the  work."  This  is 
inadmissible,  for  completion  necessarily  implies 
finality. 

financial,  monetary,  pecuniary  :  Discriminate  care* 
fully  bet^veen  these  words.  Financial  is  applied  cor- 
rectly to  public  funds  or  to  the  revenue  of  a  govern- 
ment. Afofietary  and  pecuniary  apply  only  to  trans- 
actions between  individuals. 

finish.     Compare  complete. 

fire  :  As  this  verb  possesses  the  sense  of  impel,  ex- 
plode, discharge,  as  by  using  fire  ;  as,  "-Jire  a  mine 
or  gun,"  it  has  been  humorously  applied  to  dis- 
charge from  employment,  as  ''Jire2L  clerk."  But  the 
usage  is  slang,  and  as  such  is  avoided  by  careful 
speakers. 

first :  Say  the  ''frst  two  "  rather  than  the  "  two 
first,^^  for  unless  they  be  bracketed  equal  there  can 
not  be  two  firsts.  For  a  similar  reason  the  expres- 
sion seen  in  cars,  "Smoking  on  the  four  rear  seats," 
is  equally  incorrect.  There  can  not  be  four  rear 
(or  last)  seats  ;  but  there  can  be  "  the  last  four  seats." 
As  meaning  the  four  seats  collectively  which  are  sit- 
uated at  the  rear,  the  phrase  has  its  only  justification. 

first  and  firstly  :  First  being  an  adverbial  form 
is  the  correct  form  to  use.  Firstly  has  been  used  by 
Dickens,  De  Quincey,  and  others  but  in  modern 
usage  ^ri-/  is  the  preferred  form. 

85 


first-rate  A   Desk-Book  of 

fondling 

first-rate  is  an  adjectival  not  an  adverbial  expres- 
sion. One  may  say  correctly,  "  He  is  a  Jirst-rate 
walker,"  but  not  that  "  he  ^s^Sks,  first-rate T 

fish :  When  speaking  of  fish  collectively  this  word 
represents  the  plural ;  speaking  of  fish  severally  the 
plural  is  formed  by  the  addition  of  es. 

fix :  The  colloquial  use  of  this  noun  for  a  position 
involving  embarrassment  or  a  dilemma  or  predica- 
ment has  not  the  sanction  of  literary  usage.  Do  not 
say  "  I  am  in  a  bad  fix  "  say,  rather,  "...  in  a 
bad  condition,''''  As  a  verb,  it  is  better  unused  in  the 
sense  of  set  or  arrange.  As  meaning  "  put  into 
thorough  adjustment  or  repair,"  with  the  word  up 
added,  it  is  sanctioned  by  popular  usage ;  but  the 
expression  is  thought  inelegant  and  indefinite.  Some 
more  discriminating  term  is  to  be  preferred.  Fix^ 
in  the  sense  of  "disable,  injure,  jr  kill,"  and  "fix 
up"  in  the  sense  of  "dress  elegantly,"  are  vulgar- 
isms. 

flap-doodle  :  An  inelegant  term  for  "  pretentious 
silly  talk  characterized  by  an  affectation  of  superior 
knowledge."  Twaddle  is  a  preferable  synonym. 
Compare  flub-dub. 

flash  for  ostentatious  display,  as  of  money,  is  inele- 
gant.    Display  is  a  preferable  word. 

flew  is  often  misused  ior  fied.  Do  not  say  "  He 
fiew  the  city  "  when  you  mean  that   he  fied  from 

it. 

86 


Errors  in  English  first-rate 

fondling 

flies  on  :  "  There  are  no  flies  on  him,"  is  a  slang 
phrase  not  used  by  persons  accustomed  to  refined 
diction. 

flock :  A  word  sometimes  misapplied.  Do  not 
say  ''  a  flock  of  girls ; "  say,  rather,  "  a  bevy  of 
girls  "  and  "  a  flock  of  sheep."  Flock  is  correctly 
applied  to  a  company  or  collection  of  small  animals 
as  sheep,  goats,  rabbits,  or  birds. 

flop  is  an  inelegant  word  used  sometimes  to  de- 
note change  of  attitude  on  a  subject.  Do  not  say 
"  He  flopped  over  to  the  other  side  •  ;  say,  rather, 
"  He  went  over.  ..." 

flub-dub  :  A  slang  term  used  to  designate  a  literary 
work  that  is  worthless. 

flummux :  A  vulgarism  sometimes  used  for  "  per- 
plex "  or  "  disconcert." 

fly  off  the  handle  :  A  colloquial  phrase  meaning  to 
''  lose  one's  self  control  "  as  from  anger. 

folks  :  The  modern  colloquial  plural  use  of  this 
term  is  not  to  be  recommended.  The  word  is  prop- 
erly used,  both  in  singular  and  plural  form,  2is/olk, 
its  correct  signification  being  "  people,  collectively  or 
distributively." 

foment,  ferment :  Exercise  care  in  the  use  of  these 
words.  Foine7it  is  to  bathe  with  warm  or  medicated 
lotions  ;  ferment,  to  cause  chemical  decomposition  in. 
Both  words  are  also  used  figuratively. 

fondling,    foundling  :    Discriminate    carefully  be- 

87 


fooling  A  Desk-Book  of 

freeze 

tween  these  words.  A  fo7idling  is  a  person  fondled 
or  caressed  ;  a  foundling  is  a  deserted  infant  whose 
parents  are  unknown. 

fooling  :  The  use  of  the  word  in  the  sense  of  "  de- 
ceiving "  has  been  condemned  by  certain  writers  as 
a  *'  very  vulgar  vulgarism,"  but  is  permissible,  having 
the  sanction  not  only  of  good  literar}'-  authority  but 
of  modern  dictionaries.  See  Tennyson's  "  Gareth 
and  Lynette  "  (st.  127)  :  "Worse  than  being  fool'd 
of  others  is  to  fool  one's  self." 

for  and  to ;  These  words  are  often  added  at  the 
end  of  a  sentence  by  careless  speakers  but  are  re- 
dundant. Do  not  say  "  Less  than  you  think  y^r"  ; 
nor  "  Where  are  you  going  toV 

forget  it :  When  used  as  the  equivalent  of  "  don't 
talk  about  it,"  is  a  vulgarism  that  can  not  be  too 
severely  condemned. 

fork  over  :  Slang  for  "  hand  over,"  a  preferable 
phrase. 

former  :  This  word  can  refer  to  only  one  of  two 
persons  or  things  previously  mentioned,  never  to 
any  one  of  three  or  more.  Avoid  such  construction 
as  the  following :  "  Mr.  Henley  says  that  had  Rosetti 
and  Byron  been  contemporaries,  some  of  Wi^  former's 
(meaning  Rosetti)  verses  would  have  caused  the 
latter  (meaning  Byron)  to  blush."  Here, y^rw^r  re- 
fers to  Mr.  Henley,  but  the  context  shows  clearly 
the  intention  of  the  writer  to  refer  to  Rosetti. 

88 


Errors  in  English  fooling 

freeze 

forsake.     Compare  abandon. 

fort,  forte  :  These  two  words  similarly  pronounced 
must  be  distinguished.  In  each  case  the  derivation 
is  the  same  (the  Latin  fortis^  strong),  and  although 
there  is  an  alternative  spelling  oifort  for  "  forte  "  it 
is  not  the  favored  form.  Kfort  signifies  a  fortifica- 
tion held  by  a  garrison  ;  forte  is  that  in  which  an 
individual  chiefly  excels. 

fracas  :  A  fra-cas  is  a  brawl  or  an  uproar,  not  a 
part  of  the  human  anatomy.  Therefore,  avoid  such 
expressions  as  "  He  was  stabbed  in  the  fracas." 
Say,  rather,  "  During  the  fracas  he  w^as  stabbed." 

fraud :  Just  as  cheat  has  been  made  to  do  duty 
both  for  the  act  and  the  person  committing  the  act, 
so  in  colloquial  usage  has  yr*^/^^  been  made  to  repre- 
sent not  only  the  act  but  also  its  perpetrator.  It  has 
even  been  extended  to  "  a  deceptive  or  spurious 
thing."  These  usages  oi  fraud  are,  however,  not  to 
be  recommended. 

freeze  :  This  word  has  nothing  in  common  with 
frieze  save  the  pronunciation.  The  former  is  an 
Anglo-Saxon  term,  whereas  the  latter  comes  from 
the  French  frise,  for  fraise,  a  ruff.  To  freeze  is  to 
convert  into  ice,  congeal  ;  \.o  frieze  is  to  provide  with 
2i  frieze,  which  is,  in  architecture,  the  middle  division 
of  an  entablature. 

freeze  out :  A  vulgar  phrase  for  to  "  treat  with 
coldness,  as  of  manner  or  conduct." 

89 


freeze  A  Desk-Book  of 

funeral 

freeze  to  :  An  inelegant  colloquialism  for  "  cling 
to,"  sometimes  found  in  literature  as  in  Kipling's 
"  Mine  Own  People,"  p.  209. 

frequently.     Compare  commonly. 

fresh  in  the  sense  of  "  full  of  ignorant  conceit  and 
presumption  "  is  slang  and  as  such  is  avoided  by 
persons  careful  with  their  diction. 

friend :  Carefully  distinguish  between  friend  and 
acquaintance.  The  former  is  an  acquaintance  who 
has  been  admitted  to  terms  of  intimacy,  and  who  is 
regarded  with  a  certain  amount  of  affectionate  re- 
gard. A  person  to  whom  one  has  received  a  bare 
introduction  is  an  acquaintance — nothing  more. 

frieze.     Compare  freeze. 

from  :  A  preposition  often  incorrectly  used  for 
"of."  From  should  not  be  used  elliptically.  Do 
not  say  "  He  died^r^w  pneumonia  "  when  you  mean 
from  the  effects  of -^ne\xmom2i.^^  Here  <?^^/ suggests 
the  cause  from  which  the  result  proceeded.  "  He 
died  ^pneumonia  "  is  correct. 

froze :  A  term  sometimes  misused  for  frozen. 
Froze  is  the  imperfect  of  the  verb  freeze,  while  frozen 
is  a  participial  adjective.  It  is  incorrect  to  say, 
"  My  hands  2lX^  froze, ^''  Y^^x^  frozen  should  be  used. 

-ful.  The  plural  of  compounds  ending  in  ////,  as 
spoonful  is  formed  in  the  same  manner  as  the  plural 
of  other  nouns  of  regular  formation — by  the  simple 
addition  of  a  final  "  s,"  as,  spoonfuls.     So  when  a 

90 


Errors  in  English  freeze 

funeral 

physician  prescribes  medicine  to  be  taken  by  the 
spoonful  more  than  once  a  day,  these  are  correctly 
spoken  of  as  spoonfuls.  But  supposing  more  than 
one  medicine  is  to  be  taken  and  that  the  medicines 
do  not  assimilate  thus  requiring  more  than  otie  spoon 
to  administer  them  ;  then  it  would  be  correct  to  refer 
to  the  different  doses  as  spoons  full,  since  the  words 
denote  more  than  one  spoon  full.  Spoonfuls  de- 
note one  spoon  filled  more  than  once. 

fulfil :  Remember  that  in  this  word  the  "  1  "  is  not 
doubled  but  that  it  is  m  fulfilling. 

full,  fuller  :  Terms  sometimes  incorrectly  used. 
A  "/////  cup,"  is  a  cup  completely  filled,  therefore 
it  w^ould  seem  illogical  to  say  "  my  cup  is  fuller 
than  yours."  As  a  rule  all  words  that  in  them- 
selves express  the  idea  of  completion  or  perfection 
should  be  used  only  in  the  positive  degree.  A 
perfection  greater  than  itself  is  inconceivable,  yet 
in  literature,  and  v;i.h  speakers  who  are  accus- 
tomed to  a  careful  choice  of  words,  this  form  of 
expression  has  been  permitted  for  comparison  in 
the  absence  of  an  absolute  standard  of  measure- 
ment. 

full :  A  coarse  substitute  for  "  intoxicated." 

funeral :  A  term  sometimes  misused  for  "  affair," 
or  "business,"  as  in  the  phrase  "Not  my fufi^rar^ 
meaning  "  No  business  of  mine."  The  use  is  not 
to  be  commended. 

91 


funny  A  Desk-Book  of 

gent 

funny  :  As  a  colloquialism  signifying  "  queer  "  this 
adjective  should  be  used  with  care.  It  is  better  re- 
tained for  signification  of  that  which  is  mirth-pro- 
voking or  ludicrous.  Funny  is  sometimes  used  in- 
correctly to  imply  silly  impropriety,  as  in  the  phrase, 
*  Don't  g^tf tinny.'"     Such  usage  should  be  avoided. 

further.     Compare  farther. 

future,  the  :  Used  sometimes  to  signify  the  pres- 
ent ;  as,  '*  I  shall  be  happy  to  accept " — this  is  not 
what  is  meant.  The  meaning  is  "  I  am  happy  to 
accept,  for  I  shall  be  happy  to  come,"  or  "  (Because) 
I  shall  be  happy  to  (come  I  am  happy  to)  accept " ; 
and  the  elliptical  result  is  that  there  is  elision  of  the 
words  in  parentheses.  In  a  recent  lawsuit  the  plain- 
tiff lost  $10,000  because  a  so-called  guarantee  was 
given  in  these  terms  :  "  I  will  guarantee  "  instead 
of  "  I  (hereby  do)  guarantee."  The  guarantee  pro- 
vided had  never  been  asked  for,  given,  or  obtained. 
The  credulous  victim  had  accepted  a  promise,  with- 
out condition,  for  a  performance  ;  and  he  lost.  Time 
has  improved  his  knowledge  of  the  force  of  the  Eng- 
lish tongue. 

G 

galaxy  :  Exercise  care  in  the  use  of  this  word.  It 
signifies  any  brilliant  circle  or  group  ;  as,  a  galaxy  of 
beauties  or  of  gems,  and  is  never  correctly  used  of 
any  person  or  thing  of  inferior  quality. 

08 


Errors  in  English  funny 

gent 

gall;  Correctly  used  is  "an  intensely  bitter  feeling." 
When  used  as  a  synonym  for  "  cool  assurance  "  or 
"  impudence  "  it  is  slang  which  should  be  avoided. 

gang  is  correctly  applied  to  a  squad  of  laborers, 
and  others  detailed  to  certain  given  tasks.  But 
sometimes  applied  also,  usually  in  an  uncompliment- 
ary way,  to  a  company  of  persons  who  meet  habitu- 
ally for  social  intercourse  ;  as,  "  He  sent  a  letter  to 
the^^;z<^at  Seelig's." 

gazebo  :  A  term  often  misused  for  "  chief  person.'* 
A  gazebo  is  a  belvedere  or  elevated  summer-house 
and  as  such  is  often  the  highest  point  of  a  building : 
applied  to  a  person  the  term  is  slang. 

gee  whiz  :  A  slang  exclamation  of  astonishment 
that  it  is  best  to  avoid. 

geezer :  A  vulgar  term  applied,  usually  in  deri- 
sion to  elderly  persons,  particularly  women.  For- 
merly it  was  used  to  designate  a  mummer  or  other 
grotesque  character. 

generally.     Compare  commonly. 

genius,  genus  :  Discriminate  carefully  between 
these  words.  Genius  implies  the  possession  of  re- 
markable natural  gifts  through  which  their  possessor 
may  attain  ends  or  obtain  results  by  intuitive  power. 
Genus  is  a  class  or  kind.  In  the  natural  sciences  it 
is  the  subordinate  of  an  order,  tribe,  or  family. 

gent :  As  an  abbreviation  for  gefitleman  this  word 
is  not  permitted  in  refined  speech  ;  and  gentleman  is 

95 


genteel  A  Desk-Book  of 

got 

never  correctly  used  for  man  as  a  mere  indication  of 

sex.    Compare  lady 

genteel  is  sometimes  improperly  applied  to  persons 
who  are  preferably  spoken  of  as  polite  or  well-bred. 
If  used  with  regard  to  persons,  it  should  only  be  in 
connection  with  some  specific  characteristic,  as  "a 
person  of  genteel  speech  or  appearance,"  or  to  indi- 
cate suitability  to  the  condition  of  a  well-bred  person, 
as  in  the  expression  "a  genteel  fortune." 

genuine.    Compare  authentic. 

get  a  gait  or  move  on:  Slang  phrases  for  "hasten 
one's  steps  or  actions,"  which,  while  it  may  not  be 
so  expressive,  is  more  elegant  and  refined. 

get  over:  Sometimes  used  for  deny  or  refute.  One 
doesn't  get  over  a  charge  but  refutes  it. 

git:  Vulgarism  used  in  the  imperative  for  get  out. 

go.  See  WENT. 

go  back  on:  A  colloquialism  for  abandon,  deceive, 
play  false.  Inelegant  and  not  used  by  persons  ac- 
customed to  nice  discriminations  of  speech. 

going  is  sometimes  used  as  a  synonym  for  just 
about.  One  frequently  hears,  "I  am  just  going  to 
sing,"  from  a  person  who  is  about  to  do  so.  The 
verb  go,  in  the  transitive,  is  sometimes  used  loosely 
in  the  colloquial  sense  of  "endure"  or  "wager." 
Polite  speech  does  not  sanction  such  locutions  as  "I 
can  not  go  that  music;"  "I  will  go  you  a  dollar  on 

the  race." 

94 


Errors  in   English  genteel 

got 

gone  :  The  phrase  "  He's  been  gOTie  this  month," 
though  frequently  used,  is  better  rendered  thus  :  *'  It's 
a  month  since  he  went."  The  verb  "  to  go  "  does 
not  lend  itself  agreeably  to  this  treatment  which  is 
common  with  other  verbs  (  as  "  He  has  been  known 
and  loved  for  years"),  and  the  expression  "this 
month,"  for  "this  past  month,"  is  somewhat  too 
elliptical  to  be  received  with  favor. 

gone  case  :  A  vulgarism  sometimes  used  to  denote 
that  the  affection  bestowed  by  one  person  on  another 
of  the  opposite  sex  shows  him  to  be  serious  in  his 
intentions.  It  is  also  a  vulgarism  when  applied  to 
one  who  is  in  a  hopeless  condition,  as  from  illness. 

good  should  never  be  used  for  well.  Do  not  say, 
"I  feel  pretty  ^6'^^"  or  "  she  plays  that  pretty  ^(?^^" 
when  you  mean  that  you  "  feel  pretty  well "  or  that 
"  she  plays  fairly  well.^' 

go  past :  "  Go  "  usually  implies  motion  forward, 
therefore,  it  is  pleonastic  to  say  "go  past."  Say, 
rather,  that  you  "  go  ^7  "  and  not  past.  Nevertheless 
a  march  pasf  is  a  recognized  expression. 

got  :  This  word  is  used  correctly  for  acquired  or 
obtained,  but  is  incorrectly  used  to  denote  simple 
possession  and  correctly  implies  e^07'f  to  secure 
something.  Sometimes  it  is  used  redundantly  ;  as, 
"  He  has  got  it ";  the  simpler  form,  "  He  has  it  "  is 
preferable.  "  We  have  got  to  do  it,"  while  emphatic, 
is  less  so  than  "  we  must  do  it." 

95 


go  A  Desk-Book  of 

grammar 

go  the  whole  hog  :  An  inelegant  phrase  used  foi 
"to  go  to  the  utmost  limit."  Carlyle  traces  the 
origin  of  this  phrase  from  the  Irish  because  in  Ire- 
land hog  was  a  synonym  for  a  ten  penny  piece,  a  coin 
once  current  in  that  country. 

graduate  :  The  use  of  this  verb  in  the  intransitive 
has  been  condemned  by  purists  but  is  now  well  es- 
tablished. Thus,  one  may  correctly  say  "  He  was 
graduated  from  a  university  "  or,  "He  graduated  from 
a  university." 

grammar  :  The  phrases  good  grammar  and  bad 
grammar  have  been  condemned  as  false  syntax  by 
some  persons  unfamiliar  with  the  meanings  of  the 
word  "grammar."  One  meaning  recorded  by  the 
Standard  Dictionary  is  "  speech  or  wTiting  con- 
sidered with  regard  to  its  correctness  ;  propriety  of 
linguistic  usage  ;  as,  he  uses  good  or  bad  gra7fi??iar.''' 

The  Ne7v  York  Herald  (March  4,  1906)  says: 
"  Good  gram??iar  is  one  of  those  cheap  vulgarisms 
which  most  offend  the  scholarly  ear.  A  phrase  is 
either  grammatical  or  ungrammatical.  It  can  not  be 
characterized  as  either  *  good  '  or  *  bad  '  grammar." 

The  writer  of  the  foregoing  based  his  criticism 
on  a  misunderstanding.  The  word  "  grammar  "  is 
not  like  the  word  "  orthography,"  a  word  made  up  of 
orthos,  correct,  and  grapho,  to  write.  Grammar  does 
not  carry  with  it  the  implication  of  correctness,  and 
modern  grammarians  bear  this  out.     Prof.  Edward 

96 


Errors  in  English  go 

grammar 
Maetzner  in  his  "  English  Grammar :  Methodical, 
Analytical  and  Historical,"  so  defines  the  term  : 

*'  Grammar,  or  the  doctrine  of  language,  treats  of  the  laws 
of  speech,  and,  in  the  first  place,  of  the  Word,  as  its  funda- 
mental constituent,  with  respect  to  its  matter  and  lis  form,  in 
prosody,  or  the  doctrine  of  sounds,  and  morphology,  or  the 
doctrine  of  forms,  and  then  of  the  combination  of  words  in 
spee'^h,  in  syntax,  or  the  doctrine  of  the  joining  of  words  and 
sentences"  (vol.  i.  p.  12). 

Syntax,  which  is  a  part  of  grammar,  is  sometimes 
confused  with  grammar  itself.  It  is  that  part  of 
grammar  which  treats  of  the  sentence  and  of  its  con- 
struction, and  embraces,  among  other  features,  the 
doctrine  of  the  collocation  of  words  in  sentences  in 
connected  speech,  treating  of  their  arrangement  and 
relative  positions,  as  required  by  grammatical  con- 
nection, euphony,  and  clearness  and  energy  of  ex- 
pression. 

The  "  New  English  Dictionary,"  edited  at  Oxford 
University  by  Dr.  J.  A.  H.  Murray,  treating  this  sub- 
ject says : 

"  The  old-fashioned  definition  of  grammar  as  '  The  art  of 
speaking  and  writing  a  language  correctly '  is  from  the  modern 
point  of  view  in  one  respect  too  narrow,  because  it  applied 
only  to  a  portion  of  this  branch  of  study  ;  in  another  respect 
it  is  too  -v^-ide,  and  was  so  even  from  the  older  point  of  view, 
because  m.any  qtcestions  of  '  correctness '  in  language  are  recog- 
nized  as  outside  the  province  of  grammar  :  e.  g.,  the  use  of  a 
word  in  a  wrong  sense,  or  a  bad  pronunciation  or  spelling, 
would  not  have  been  called  a  grammatical  mistake.     Until  a 

97 


grammatical     A   Desk-Book,  of 
grow 

not  very  distant  date,  grammar  was  divided  by  English 
writers  into  Orthography,  Etymology,  Syntax,  and  Prosody, 
to  which  Orthoepy  was  added  by  some  others.  The  division 
now  usual  is  that  into  Phonology,  treating  of  the  sounds  now 
used  in  the  language,  Accidence,  of  the  inflexional  forms  or 
eqixivalent  combinations,  and  Syntax,  of  the  structure  of  sen- 
tences." 

In  defining  grammar,  Lindley  Murray  wrote  "  Eng- 
lish grammar  is  the  art  of  speaking  and  writing  the 
English  language  with  propriety."  Following  the 
style  of  the  Standard  Dictionary,  Dr.  Murray  gives 
one  of  the  meanings  of  grammar  as  follows  ;  "  Speech 
or  writing  judged  as  good  or  bad  according  as  it  con- 
forms to  or  violates  grammatical  rules  ;  also  speech 
or  writing  that  is  correct  according  to  those  rules." 

If  grammar  can  not  be  good  or  bad,  as  contended 
by  the  New  York  HeraWs  editor,  then  it  can  not  be 
true  or  false.  Yet  Dry  den  wrote,  "  And  I  doubt  the 
word  'they  '  \s  false  grammar^''  (Almanzor,  II.  Def. 
Epilogue)  ;  and  Macaulay  writing  of  Frederick  the 
Great,  said  :  "  He  had  German  enough  to  scold  his 
servants,  but  his  grammar  and  pronunciation  are  ex- 
tremely  bad^''  (Ess3.ys\  Frederick  the  Great).  Again, 
elsewhere,  "  The  letter  may  still  be  read,  with  all 
the  original  bad  grammar  zxvdi  bad  spelling  "  (History 
of  England,  IV.,  xviii.,  245).  Both  phrases  are  per- 
missible.    Compare  bad. 

grammatical  error  :  A  common  locution,  but  "  an 
error  in  grammar,"  is  to  be  preferred  as  avoiding 

98 


Errors   in   English     grammatical 

grow 

what  is  sometimes  considered  a  violation  of  gram- 
matical precision. 

grant.     Compare  accord. 

grass,  go  to:  A  vulgar  imperative  meaning  "get 
away"  or  "clear  out !" 

grass  widow:  A  common  term  of  disparagement 
applied  to  a  woman  abandoned  by  or  separated  from 
her  husband:  a  term  which  is  not  used  by  persons 
of  refinement  and  one  that,  if  used  at  all,  should  be 
applied  only  with  great  care. 

grass  widower:  A  term  used  to  denote  a  husband 
who  lives  apart  from  his  wife  or  one  from  whom  the 
wife  is  temporarily  absent. 

gratitude,  thankfulness :  Gratitude,  from  the  Latin 
gratitudo,  from  grains,  kind,  is  a  sense  of  apprecia- 
tion of  favors  received,  as  indicated  by  actions.  It  is 
the  actual  feeling,  of  which  thankfulness,  or  the  ful- 
ness of  thanks,  is  the  mere  outward  expression.  It  is 
therefore  quite  possible,  and  indeed  often  the  case, 
for  a  person  who  at  one  time  is  full  of  thanks  to 
show  subsequently  a  want  of  gratitude. 

great.     Compare  big. 

groom  should  not  be  used  for  "bridegroom." 

grouchy:  A  slang  term  for  sulky  or  disgruntled. 

grow  sometimes  used  for  become  is  gaining  the 
sanction  of  usage;  as,  "to  grow  smaller."  In  this 
sense  grow  has  been  used  by  such  masters  of  Eng- 
lish as  Steele,  Gray,  Johnson,  and  ^lacaulay. 

99 


guess  A  Desk-Book  of 

had 

guess,  suppose,  think,  conjecture  :  Words  some- 
times used  incorrectly.  We  guess  when  we  are  con- 
tent to  hazard  an  opinion  based  on  data  which  are 
admittedly  insufficient,  but  we  suppose  when  we  have 
good  ground  fir  assuming  a  thing  to  be  true.  When 
we  think,  we  give  thought  to  a  matter  on  which  we 
yet  admit  the  thought  has  been  insufficient  to  fur- 
nish us  with  exact  or  certain  knowledge.  TJiinking 
is  allied  to  conjecturing,  in  which,  though  holding  a 
pronounced  opinion,  this  falls  short  of  absolute  con- 
viction. We  guess  the  outcome  of  an  event,  but  sup- 
pose that  an  event  which  has  happened  may  result 
T  good.  We  thi?ik  that  a  certain  medicine  may  effect 
a  cure,  but  if  we  have  tried  it  successfully  before  for  a 
similar  complaint,  co?ijecture  that  it  will,  although  not 
being  absolutely  sure  that  the  conditions  are  precisely 
the  same  we  are  not  convi?tced  and  do  not  k?iow. 
gums.     Compare  rubbers. 

H 

habit,  custom,  usage  :  Discriminate  carefully  be- 
tween these  words.  In  strict  usage  habit  pertains 
exclusively  to  the  individual ;  custom  to  a  race  or 
nation  of  people,  as,  the  custo7ns  of  the  Jews.  Usage 
refers  particularly  to  habitual  practise  or  something 
permitted  by  it  or  done  in  accordance  with  it. 

had  better,  would  better  :  Although  according 
to  grammatical  rule  had  better  is  incorrect,   it  has 

100 


Errors  in  English  guess 

had 
been  used  by  writers  of  correct  English  and  it 
may  be  found  repeatedly  in  the  English  Classics. 
Therefore,  it  is  generally  considered  good  usage 
and  preferable  to  would  better  which,  though  cor- 
rect, is  seldom  heard  and  usually  considered  pe- 
dantic. 

had,  have  :  In  such  a  phrase  as  "  Had  I  have  heard 
of  it,"  the  verb  have  is  redundant,  for  had  here  is 
used  elliptically  for  if  I  had,  and  carries  the  con- 
tingency to  the  past.  Care  should  be  taken  to  avoid 
such  locutions  as  the  example  given  which  is  one  of 
a  class  that  stamps  those  who  make  use  of  them  as 
grossly  ignorant. 

had  ought :  The  use  of  any  part  of  the  verb  have 
with  ought  \s  a  vulgarism.  Not  "  I  had  ought  to  have 
written,"  but  simply  "  I  ought  to  have  written";  not 
*'  He  had?i't  ought  to  have  done  it,"  but  "  He  ought 
not  to  have  done  it." 

had  rather,  had  better :  Forms  disputed  by  certain 
critics,  from  the  days  of  Samuel  Johnson,  the  critics 
insisting  upon  the  substitution  of  would  or  should,  as 
the  case  may  demand,  for  had;  but  had  rather  and 
had  better  are  thoroughly  established  English  idioms 
having  the  almost  universal  popular  and  literary 
sanction  of  centuries.  ''  I  would  rather  not  go  "  is 
undoubtedly  correct  when  the  purpose  is  to  empha- 
size the  element  of  choice  or  will  in  the  matter ;  but 
in  all  ordinary  cases  "  I  had  rather  not  go  "  has  the 

101 


haa  A  Desk-Book  of 

hang 

merit  of  being  idiomatic  and  easily  and  universally 

understood. 

I  had  rather  be  a  doorkeeper  in  the  house  of  my  God 
than  to  dwell  in  the  tents  of  wickedness.  Ps.  Ixxxiv.  10. 
If  for  "  You  had  better  stay  at  home,"  we  substi- 
tute "You  should  better  stay  at  home,"  an  entirely 
different  meaning  is  expressed,  the  idea  of  expedi- 
ency giving  place  to  that  of  obligation. — Standard 
Dictionary. 

"  Would  rather  may  always  be  substituted  for  had 
rather.  Might  rather  would  not  have  the  same  mean- 
ing. Would  and  should  do  not  go  well  with  better. 
In  one  instance  can  is  admissible.  '  I  can  better 
afford,'  because  can  is  especially  associated  with 
afford.  We  may  say  might  better,  but  it  has  neither 
the  sanction,  the  idiomatic  force,  nor  the  precise 
meaning  of  had  better." — Samuel  Ramsey,  Eng. 
Lang,  and  Gram.  pt.  ii.  ch.  6,  p.  413. 

hail,  hale:  Hail  is  pronounced  as  hale  (robust; 
sound)  but  should  be  distinguished  therefrom,  al- 
though for  that  word  there  is  an  alternative  spelling 
hail,  which,  however,  is  rarely  used.  Hale  is  from 
Icelandish  heill,  sound;  hail  is  from  the  Anglo- 
Saxon,  haegel,  frozen  rain. 

hain't:  A  common  vulgarism  for  have  not,  haven't, 
and  made  worse,  if  possible,  by  being  used  also  for 
has  not  or  hasn't;  as  "  I  hain't,"  "  He  hain't,"  etc. 
**  I  haven't"  "  He  hasn't,"  are  permissible,  "  haven't 

102 


Errors  in  English  hail 

hang 
I  ?  "  "  hasn^f  he  ?  "  are  acceptable  in  conversation. 
But  when  the  subject  precedes  in  the  first  person 
singular  and  the  plural,  it  is  preferable  to  abbreviate 
the  verb;  as,  "/'z'(?  ?iot,^^  '■^you've  not,^''  etc. 

half :  Inasmuch  as  in  equivalent  terms  of  the  whole 
there  can  not  be  a  single  half^  but  must  be  two  halves^ 
one  should  speak  of  dividing  (the  whole)  into  two 
or  into  halves  rather  than  of  cutting  (it)  in  half. 

half-cock,  to  go  off  at :  A  colloquial  phrase  denot- 
ing "  to  speak  before  one  is  ready  " ;  not  used  by 
persons  accustomed  to  refined  diction. 

handful :  This  word  has  for  a  plural  handfuls. 
*'  Two  handfuls  of  flour  "  means  a  handful  taken 
twice,  whereas  hands  full  means  both  hands  full. 
This  last  term  is  often  erroneously  written  handsful. 

handy  :  Properly  said  of  articles  on  which  one 
may  lay  the  hand,  or  possibly  of  persons,  as  attend- 
ants, ready  at  hand  for  service.  Applied  to  neigh- 
borhood, "near,"  "near  by,"  "close  at  hand,"  or 
the  like  are  to  be  preferred. 

hang  :  This  verb  has  for  its  perfect  tense  and  past 
participle  two  forms,  hanged  and  hung ;  but  in  the 
sense  of  execution  (^sus  per  col),  the  former  term  is 
alone  correctly  used,  whereas  in  other  senses  the 
latter  is  applied.  Thus,  one  may  say,  "A  hat  is 
hung  on  a  peg,  but  a  murderer  is  hanged  on  the  gal- 
lows," and  7iot  that  the  hat  is  hanged  nor  that  the 
jnurderer  is  hung. 

103 


hanger  A   Desk-Book   of 

have 

hanger  on  :  A  colloquialism  for  "  a  dependent  oi 
parasite : "  the  term  is  inelegant  and  therefore  un- 
desirable. 

hangs  on  :  As  a  substitute  for  "  remains,"  the  ex- 
pression finds  no  favor. 

happen.     Compare  transpire. 

happen  in,  to:  A  colloquialism  often  met  in  rural 
districts  and  used  for  "  to  make  a  chance  social 
call,  "  or  "  to  drop  in  casually  "  as  one  passes  by. 

happiness.     Compare  pleasure. 

hard  case  :  An  American  colloquialism  for  a  per- 
son of  pronounced  or  curious  type. 

hardly.     Compare  scarcely. 

hardy.     Compare  rugged. 

hasten,  hurry  :  Although  both  words  imply  a  ce- 
lerity of  action,  the  former  presupposes  consideration 
and  is  not  opposed  to  good  order,  whereas  the  latter 
is  indicative  of  perturbation  and  a  measure  of  irreg- 
ularity. Therefore  these  terms  are  not  synonymous. 
Phelps  in  his  "  English  Style  in  Public  Discourse," 
says  "  the  first  does  not  imply  confusion  ;  the  second 
does."  Lexicographers  do  not  restrict  the  meaning 
of  hurry  to  "  to  confuse  by  undue  haste  or  sudden- 
ness," but  define  it  as  "  to  cause  to  be  done  rapidly 
or  more  rapidly ;  accelerate."  You  hasten  to  con- 
gratulate but  hur?y  to  catch  a  train. 

have  :   On   the  use   of  this  word   the  Standard 
Dictionary  says  ;  Used  in  the  past  tense  following 

104 


Errors  in   English  kangei 

have 

another  past  tense,  a  use  often  indiscriminately  con- 
demned, though  sometimes  proper  and  necessary. 
( I )  Improper  construction.  Where  what  was  "  meant," 
"  intended,"  or  the  like  was,  at  the  time  when  in- 
tended, some  act  (as  of  going,  writing,  or  speaking) 
future  in  its  purpose  and  not  past,  and  therefore  not 
to  be  expressed  by  a  past  tense ;  as,  "He  meant  to 
have  gone'^  for  "  He  meant  to  go  "  ;  "I  meant  to  have 
written  to  you,  but  forgot  it,"  for  ''  I  meant  towrite,^* 
etc. ;  "  I  had  intended  to  have  spoken  to  him  about  it," 
for  "  I  had  intended  to  speak,''  etc. ;  "  I  should  like 
to  have  gone''  for  "  I  should  have  liked  to  go.''  The 
infinitive  with  to  expresses  the  relation  of  an  act  as 
so  conceived,  so  that  both  analogy  and  prevalent 
usage  require  "  meant  to  go  "  instead  of  "  meant  to 
have  gone.''  Such  construction,  although  occasional 
instances  of  it  still  occur  in  works  of  authors  of  the 
highest  literary  reputation,  and  still  often  heard  in 
conversation,  is  now  generally  regarded  as  ungram- 
matical. 

(2)  Proper  construction.  The  doubling  of  the  past 
tenses  in  connection  with  the  use  of  hai'e  with  a  past 
participle  \s  proper  and  necessary  when  the  completion 
of  the  future  act  was  intended  before  the  occurrence 
of  something  else  mentioned  or  thought  of.  Atten- 
tion to  this  qualification,  which  has  been  overlooked 
in  the  criticism  of  tense-formation  and  connection,  is 
especially   important   and  imperative.     If  one  says, 

105 


have  A  Desk-Book  of 

heir 

**  I  meant  to  have  visited  Paris  and  to  have  returned  to 
London  before  my  father  arrived  irom  America,"  the 
past  infinitive  in  the  dependent  clause  is  necessary 
for  the  expression  of  tlie  completion  of  the  acts  pur- 
posed. "  I  meant  to  visit  Paris  and  to  retur7t  to 
London  before  my  father  arrived  from  America," 
may  convey  suggestively  the  thought  intended,  but 
does  not  express  it. 

have  seen,  seen,  saw:  In  combining  words  that 
denote  time  always  observe  the  order  and  fitness  of 
time.  Do  not  say  "  I  have  seen  him  last  month ;  say, 
rather,  ''  I  saw  him  last  7?  onth.''  Nor  say,  "  I  seen 
him  this  week  " — a  common  error  in  grammar  among 
the  careless ;  say,  rather,  "  I  have  seen  him  this  week,''^ 
a  form  that  should  be  used  also,  instead  of  "  I  saii) 
him  this  week.'*^ 

he,  she,  her,  him,  etc.  :  Pronouns  often  used  incor- 
rectly; inexcusable  errors  in  the  educated,  which  are 
illustrated  by  such  expressions  as  "  If  I  were  him  (or 
her),  I  would,"  etc.  It  should  be  "  If  I  were  he  (or 
^he),  I  would,"  etc. 

healthful,  healthy  :  Discriminate  carefully  between 
these  words.  A  healthful  thing  is  one  efiicacious  in 
promoting  or  causing  health  ;  healthy  denotes  condi- 
tion or  characteristics  ;  as  "  a  healthy  child  '* ;  "a 
healthful  climate." 

heap  :  A  word  sometimes  used  to  designate  a 
"large  number."     A  hea^  is  "  a  collection  of  things 

106 


Errors  in  English  have 

heir 
piled  up  so  as  to  form  an  elevation  " ;  any  other 
application  of  the  word  is  colloquial. 

hearty  :  As  applied  to  the  appetite  is  so  common 
at  this  day  that  it  seems  perhaps  hypercritical  to 
object  to  it ;  and  the  dictionaries  of  course  give  the 
sense,  for  it  is  the  lexicographer's  duty  to  record  the 
language  as  it  exists  not  as  it  ought  to  exist.  That 
is  hearty  which  proceeds  from  the  heart ;  to  extend 
the  sentiment  to  the  appetite,  or  to  a  meal,  or  to  its 
eater,  as  is  done  by  common  usage,  seems  taking  a 
liberty  with  the  word,  and  applying  a  fine  and  ex- 
pressive term  to  a  comparatively  unworthy  object. 

heir  :  Pronounce  without  aspirating  the  h.  Dis- 
tinguish bet^veen  heir  apparent  and  heir  presumptive. 
The  former  is  "  one  who  must  by  course  of  law  be- 
come the  heir  if  he  survive  his  ancestor  "  ;  the  latter, 
"one  Vv'hose  present  legal  expectation  of  becoming 
heir  may  be  defeated  by  the  birth  of  a  person  in  near 
degree  of  relationship."  Thus,  a  man  may  to-day  be 
heir  pe7'sii7nptive  to  his  bachelor  brother  who  by  mar- 
riage may  in  a  year's  time  become  the  father  of  a 
son,  who  will  then  become  heir  apparent ;  and  by  this 
circumstance  the  claims  of  the  former  heir  presump- 
tive are  quashed. 

The  Standard  Dictionary  says  :  "  Heir  is  often 
colloquially  applied  to  one  who  receives  or  is  to  re- 
ceive a  property  by  will.  In  legal  terminology  such 
a  person   is  a  devisee  or   legatee,  not   an  heir.''^     As 

107 


help  A  Desk-Book  of 

holy 

an  Jieir  does  not  exist  till  death  either  by  will  o\ 
operation  of  law,  it  is  only  by  impropriet}^  of  speech 
that  one  talks  of  the  heirs  of  the  living. 

help  has  the  meaning  of  "  assist  "  ;  it  has  also  the 
somewhat  opposed  meaning  of  ''  prevent,  hinder,  or 
refrain  from."  This  veiled  negative  makes  the  cor- 
rect application  of  the  word  difficult.  Take,  for  ex- 
ample, the  sentence  "  Make  no  more  noise  than  you 
can  help''  I  can  not  h^lp  doing  a  thing  is  I  can  not 
refrain  from  doing  it :  that  is,  I  can  not  not  do  it, 
which  means  I  must  do  it.  The  correct  form  of  the 
sentence  just  given  is  shown  by  filling  in  the  ellipsis, 
whence  it  appears  that  7iot  should  also  be  supplied : 
"  Make  no  more  noise  than  (such  as)  you  can  {jiot) 
help  (making)."  Help  includes  aid,  but  aid  may  fall 
short  of  the  meaning  of  help. 

hence,  thence,  whence:  As  in  meaning  these  words 
embrace  from  it  is  pleonastic  to  precede  them  by 
the  word  thus  implied.  Do  not  say,  "  go  from 
hence,"  "  from  thence  he  went  to  Rome,"  "  from 
whence  did  you  come."  Fro}}i  is  redundant  in  all 
these  sentences. 

hen-party :  A  vulgar  term  for  a  social  gathering 
of  ladies.     Compare  stag-party. 

herd  :  A  term  sometimes  applied  indiscriminately 
to  persons  as  well  as  beasts.  Herd  is  correctly 
used  to  designate,  "  a  number  of  animals  feeding 
or  herding  together ;  "  when  applied  to  persons  the 

308 


Errors  in  English  lielp 

^  holy 

true   designation   is   "a   disorderly  rabble,"  or  "the 

lower  classes,"  as  the  vulger  herd. 

him  and  me:  It  is  a  vulgar  error  to  use  the 
objective  for  the  nominative.  One  should  not 
say,  "Him  and  me  are  going  to  Bermuda,"  say, 
rather,  "He  and  I  (or  preferably  *we')  are  going 
to  Bermuda."  Do  not  say,  "Between  yoti  and 
I,"  but  say,  "Between  you  and  me,"  or  "Between 
us." 

hire.    Compare  lease. 

holocaust:  A  term  sometimes  misused  owing  to  a 
lexicographical  error  which  attributes  to  the  word 
the  meaning  of  "any  great  disaster."  According  to 
this  the  Johnstown  Flood,  the  Galveston  storm,  and 
the  fire  in  the  Paris  bazaar  all  were  holocausts,  but 
this  is  erroneous.  Holocaust  is  derived  from  the 
Greek  holos,  entire,  whole,  and  kaustos,  burnt,  and 
its  principal  meaning  is  "a  sacrificial  offering  burnt 
whole  or  entirely  consumed."  Figuratively,  the  term 
may  be  applied  to  destruction  by  fire,  as  the  burning 
of  the  steamer  "General  Slocum"  in  the  East  River, 
New  York,  or  the  great  fire  in  Baltimore,  but  not  to 
loss  as  by  shipwreck  or  collision  unless  attended  by 
fire. 

holy:  The  word  means  not  only  "morally  excel- 
lent" but  also  "set  apart  for  the  service  of  God" ; 
and  therefore  the  criticism  that  "to  keep  holy  the 
Sabbath  day"  is  a  meaningless  injunction  as  every 

109 


holy  A   DesiC-Book  of 

however 

day  should  be  kept  holy,  is  without  merit.  The  word  is 
derived  from  the  Anglo  Saxon  and  means  "  whole  "  ; 
and  the  divine  direction  as  to  the  Sabbath  is,  there- 
fore, simply  that  the  day  be  observed  in  its  integrity. 

holy  mackerel :  An  inane  expression  commonly 
used  to  denote  surprise  and  one  to  be  avoided  by  all 
persons  with  pretentions  to  refined  diction. 

hoodoo  :  A  colloquialism  designating  any  person 
regarded  as  bringing  ill  luck,  as  a  "  Jonah,"  on  ship- 
board, m  allusion  to  the  Bible  story  of  the  prophet 
Jonah. 

horde  :  This  word  means  "  a  gathered  multitude 
of  human  beings  ;  a  troop,  gang,  or  crew ;  as  the 
hordes  of  Cambyses."  It  is  never  correctly  applied 
to  things.     Do  not  speak  of  a  horde  of  rubbish. 

horse  sense :  A  colloquial  phrase  designating 
"  rough  common  sense  "  used  by  W.  D.  Howells  in 
"  Hazard  of  New  Fortunes,"  vol.  i.  p.  4. 

how  ?  should  never  be  used  for  "  What  did  you 

say  ?  "     Nor  in  making  a  request  for  the  repetition 

of  any  statement  not  heard   clearly  or  not  readily 

understood.    Condemned  by  Oliver  Wendell  Holmes 

in  "  A  Rhymed  Lesson,"  st.  43. 

"  Do  put  your  accents  in  the  proper  spot ; 
Don't— let  me  beg  you— don't  say  "  How?  "  for  *'  What  ?" 

how  is  an  adverb,  but  it  is  sometimes  most  in- 
elegantly used  as  an  interjection  and  very  improp- 
erly used  as  a  conjunction,  which  it  is  not.     On 


Errors  in  English  lioly 

however 
this  subject  the  Standard  Dictionary  says,  ''HoWy 
as  an  adverb,  may  be  used  as  an  interrogative 
or  a  relative  in  any  of  its  senses.  In  old  or  vulgar 
usage  it  is  sometimes  nearly  equivalent  to  the  con- 
junction that:  either  (i)  alone,  as,  he  told  me  how 
he  had  been  left  an  orphan  ;  or  (2)  in  the  phrases 
had  that  and  as  how  ;  as,  he  told  how  that  he  saw  it 
all ;  he  told  me  as  how  I  angered  him." 

however  :  As  an  adverb  however  has  proper  and 
elegant  use  as,  "  However  wise  one  may  be,  there  are 
limits  to  one's  knowledge."  But  its  use  for  how  and 
ever  as,  "  However  could  he  do  it  ? "  should  be 
avoided  as  a  vulgarism ;  while  its  employment  in  the 
sense  of  "at  any  rate;  at  all,"  as  in  the  example, 
*'He  tried  to  keep  me,  but  I'm  going,  however,''  is 
provincial  and  archaic. 

As  a  conjunction  it  should  not  be  used  indiscrimi- 
nately, as  it  often  is  used,  for  hut  or  7iotwithsta7iding, 
Not  "  He  was  sick ;  not,  hoivever,  so  seriously  as  he 
thought,"  but "  He  was  sick,  hut  not  so  seriously," 
etc. ;  since  the  relation  is  sharply  adversitive.  "  And 
Moses  said.  Let  no  man  leave  of  it  till  the  morning. 
Notufithstanding  (not  hut)  they  barkened  not  unto 
Moses  " ;  since  the  preceding  thought  is  represented 
as  no  impediment  to  the  succeeding  one.  "  I  have 
not  seen  her  since  our  quarrel ;  however  (not  hut^  or 
notivith standing),  I  expect  to  be  recalled  ever}'  hour  "  ; 
since   the  relation  is  one  of  concession  and  simple 

111 


hung  A  Desk-Book  of 

m 

transition,  however  denoting  that  "  in  whatever  man- 
ner or  degree  what  precedes  is  valid,  what  follows 
nevertheless  stands  firm." — Standard  Dictionary. 

hung  should  never  be  used  for  hanged.  Beef  is 
hung ;  a  murderer  is  hanged.     Compare  hang. 

hunk,  tc  get :  A  vulgar  phrase  for  "  to  get  even  " 
or  "to  retaliate  upon." 

hunky  or  hunky-dory  :  Slang  terms  that  should 
not  be  used  for  "  all  right  '* ;  "  safe  " ;  or  "  done 
satisfactorily." 

hurry.     Compare  hasten. 

I 

I,  and  me  :  "  They  had  come  to  see  my  sister  and 
/"  is  a  common  error.  In  this  sentence  "  they  " 
stands  in  the  nominative  case,  and  "my  sister  ai'i 
/,"  being  the  objects  of  the  action  of  the  nominative 
**  they,"  should  be  noun  and  pronoun  in  the  object- 
ive case.  To  be  correct  the  clause  should  read 
"my  sister  and  me,^"*  *'  They  have  come  to  see  7ny 
sister  a7id  w*?." 

ice-cream,  ice-water :  Common  English  idioms 
sometimes  condemned  as  incorrect.  The  Standard 
Dictionary  recording  usage  recognizes  the  forms 
ke-cream  and  ice-water  as  correct.  Inasmuch  as  iced 
means  "  made  cold  with  ice;  as  iced  milk  ox  iced  tea ^^^ 
it  would  seem  that  by  analogy  the  correct  phrases 
should  be  iced  cream,  iced  water,  for  one  would  not 

1.12 


Errors  in  English  hung 

iU 

think  of  asking  for  ice  tea  or  ice  milk,  but  these  idioms 
are  so  firmly  established  that  it  is  doubtful  if  they 
will  ever  be  changed. 

idea.     Compare  opinion. 

ie,  ei:  The  rule  governing  the  use  of  these  letters 
in  spelling  is  commonly  expressed  "  I  before  E 
except  after  C."  Therefore,  remember  believe  is 
correct,  not  "  beleive  ";  receive  and  not  "  recieve  " ; 
brief,  and  not  "  breif  " ;  reprieve^  not  "  repreive  "  ; 
retrieve,  not "  retreive.'* 

if,  or  :  Do  not  say  "  seldom  or  ever,'*  say,  rather, 
"  seldom  ^ever,"  or  "  seldom  or  never." 

if.  whether  :  Sometimes  if  is  incorrectly  used  for 
whether.  It  is  used  correctly  when  supposition  or 
condition  is  implied ;  whether^  chiefly  when  an  al- 
ternative is  suggested  or  presented.  "  If  he  sends 
the  money  I  shall  then  decide  whether  or  not  I  will 
go." 

ill :  The  Standard  Dictionary  says :  The  use  of 
ill  and  sick  differs  in  the  two  great  English-speaking 
countries.  ///  is  used  in  both  lands  alike,  but  the 
preferred  sense  of  sick  in  England  is  that  of  "  sick 
at  the  stomach,  nauseated,"  while  in  the  United 
States  the  two  words  are  freely  interchangeable. 
Still  Tennyson  and  other  good  writers  freely  use 
sick  in  the  sense  of  ///.  The  tendency  of  modern 
usage  is  to  remand  ///and  Z£/^// (referring  to  condition 
of  health)  to  the  predicate.     We  say  "  A  person  who 

113 


Illusion  A  Desk-Book  of 

indices 

is  ///,"  rather  than  "  An  ///  person '' ;  "I  am  well^ 
but  not  "  I  am  in  a  well  state  of  health."  ///  in  the 
abstract  sense  of  bad  or  wicked  is  obsolescent,  or 
rather  practically  obsolete  except  in  poetic  or  local 
use.     Compare  illy.. 

illusion.     Compare  delusion. 

illy  :  This  word  should  never  be  used  for  ///  since 
ill  is  both  an  adverb  and  an  adjective.  Say,  "  He 
behaved  ///"  ;  not  "  he  behaved  ///y."  Illy  is  now 
obsolescent. 

immerge.     Compare  emerge. 

immigrant.     Compare  emigrant. 

imminent.     Compare  eminent. 

immunity  and  impunity  are  sometimes  confounded. 
They  are  both  from  the  Latin,  the  former  being  pro- 
duced by  in^  not,  +  munuSy  service,  and  the  latter  by 
in  +  pxna^  punishment.  Freedom  from  any  burden, 
or  exemption  from  evil,  duty  or  penalty  has  perhaps 
not  unnaturally,  been  associated  with  freedom  from 
punishment.  A  boy  may  insult  his  brother  with  im- 
punity but  can  not  expect  to  enjoy  a  Hke  immunity 
from  strangers. 

impending.     Compare  eminent. 

imperative,  imperious  :  Discriminate  carefully  be- 
tween these  words.  That  which  is  imperative  may 
be  either  mandatory  or  authoritative  ;  while  that 
which  is  imperious  may  be  domineering  or  overbear- 
ing. 

114 


ILrrors  in  English  illusion 

indicee 

implicate.     Compare  involve. 

inaugurate  :  Phelps  declare^  that  this  word  in  the 
sense  of  "  introduce  "  is  improper  and  restricts  its 
meaning  to  "  investiture  in  office  "  But  lexicog- 
raphers disregard  this  distinction  and  declare  that 
inaugurate  may  be  correctly  used  to  mean  also  "  to 
set  in  operation ;  to  initiate ;  to  originate  ;  as  to  in- 
augurate reforms." 

"  Indeed  !  "  "  Is  that  so  ?  "  Discriminate  carefully 
between  these  terms.  ''''Indeed''^  expresses  surprise. 
"/f  that  soV^  like  "you  don't  say?"  implies  dis- 
belief and  calls  for  the  reiteration  of  the  statement 
made.  As  these  interrogations  are  used  chiefly  to 
discredit  or  disconcert  the  speaker  they  may  be 
characterized  as  specimens  of  -'  refined  "  rudeness. 

indentation,  indention  :  An  indentation  is  a  notch 
in  an  edge  or  border ;  it  is  also  a  dent ;  and  indefi- 
tion  is  a  setting  of  type  in  such  manner  as  to  leave 
a  blank  space  on  the  left  side  of  a  margin  of  type- 
matter  as  at  the  beginning  of  a  paragraph. 

The  printers'  inde7ition  is  not  (as  it  is  often  said  to 
be)  a  shortened  form  of  i?ide?itatiG7i,  but  an  original 
word  from  dent  (dinf)^  "  a  denting  in,  a  depression," 
and  hence  is  the  proper  word,  rather  than  indentation^ 
to  express  the  idea. 

indices  :  A  plural  form  of  ifidex^  generally  and  more 
properly  reserved  for  use  in  science  and  mathematics. 
In  other  cases  the  plural  indexes  should  be  used. 

115 


indict,  A  Desk-Book  of 

intend 

indict,  indite  :  Although  the  pronunciation  of  these 
w  rds  is  identical  their  meanings,  iu  modern  practise, 
differ  materially.  Both  words  are  from  the  Latin 
in  +  dico^  say.  The  first  means  to  prefer  an  indict* 
ment  (or  formal  written  charge  of  crime)  against. 
The  second  means  *'  to  put  into  words  in  writing  " 
but  it  does  not  carry  with  it,  the  legal  signification  of 
the  preceding. 

induction.     Compare  deduction. 

inferior:  In  constant  and  approved  use  in  such 
expressions  as  "an  mferior  Ymxi,-^  "goods  oi  2k.n  in- 
ferior sort " ;  corresponding  to  such  expressions  as 
"  a  superior  man,"  "  materials  of  superior  quality  " — 
all  of  which  may  be  regarded  as  elliptical  forms  of 
speech.  In  reply  to  Dean  Alford's  challenge  of  this 
usage  {jQucen''s  English  \  214,  p.  82),  it  is  enough  to 
say  that  life  would  be  too  short  to  admit  of  all 
such  ellipses,  being  supplied,  even  if  such  supply 
would  not  make  speech  too  prolix  for  common  use. 

inform.     Compare  post. 

ingenious,  ingenuous  :  Words  sometimes  used 
erroneously.  Jnge?iious  characterizes  persons  pos- 
sessed of  cleverness  or  ability ;  ready,  skilful,  prompt, 
or  apt  to  contrive.  Ingenuous  vci<^2Ci\'s>  free  from  guile  ; 
candid  ;  open  ;  frank. 

in,  into  :  Discriminate  carefully  between  these 
words.  J?t  denotes  position,  state,  etc. ;  into,  tend- 
ency, direction,  destination,  etc. 

IIG 


Errors  in  English  mdict 

intend 

Inkslinger  :  A  vulgar  term  for  a  journalist,  writer, 
or  literary  worker,  and  as  such  one  to  be  avoided. 

innumerable  means  "  that  cannot  be  numbered." 
Therefore,  avoid  such  a  locution  as  "an  itmumerable 
number,"  as  absurd. 

in  our  midst  :  An  undesirable  and  ambiguous 
phrase  for  "among  us  "  due  to  the  misinterpretation 
of  "in  the  midst  of  us,"  " in  the  midst  of  them" 
{Matt,  xviii,  20)  but  with  some  literary  authority  for 
its  use. 

in  so  far  as  :  In  this  phrase  the  word  in  is  redun- 
dant and  meaningless.  Do  not  say,  "  In  so  far  as  I 
dared,  I  spoke  the  truth."     Omit  the  in. 

in  spite  of  :  A  phrase  which  some  persons  declare 
not  synon3anous  with  ?totwit/istandi?ig,  yet  the  Stani> 
ARD  Dictionary  authorizes  its  use  and  says,  "  form- 
erly in  contempt  of;  now,  notwithstanding:  used 
somewhat  emphatically." 

intend,  mean  :  The  use  of  inte?id  for  7?iean,  as  in 
explanatory  sentences,  is  not  commonly  approved  al- 
though it  has  the  sanction  of  literary'  usage,  and  is 
considered  correct  by  lexicographers  who  in  defin- 
ing the  words  treat  them  as  interchangeable.  When 
explaining  anydiing  that  has  been  said  it  is  prefer- 
able to  say,  "  By  this  I  mean,'''  rather  than  "  By  this  I 
intend.''^  Do  not  say  "  Do  you  7?iean  to  come  ?  "  when 
you  wish  to  know  whether  or  not  the  person  you 
address  ifite?ids  to  come.     Compare  contemplate. 

117 


in  A  Desic-Book  of 

it 

in  the  street,  on  the  street :  Distinctions  between 

these  phrases  are  invariably  wiredrawn.    Both  forms 

are  permissible;  the  writer's  preference,  which  may 

be  modified  according  to  circumstances,  is  for  the 

iirsi.     ''His  home   is  in   Eighty-seventh  street"  is 

preferable    to    "on    Eighty-seventh    street."      One 

should  not  say  "his  heme  is  on  Bermuda,"  but  "in 

Bermuda."      "He    lives    at    Hamilton,    in    Queen 

street."     Compare  on. 

invest :  Properly  used  only  of  considerable  trans- 
actions, and  always  v/ith  a  suggestion  of  permanent 
proprietary  right.  One  does  not  invesf  (except  in  a 
humorous  sense)  in  a  postage-stamp. 

invite:  Used  in  the  sense  of  "invitation"  this 
term,  a  colloquialism  formerly  in  wide  use,  is  con- 
demned as  illiterate  and  bordering  on  vulgarity. 

involve  is  to  be  distinguished  from  implicate.  The 
latter  has  a  suggestion  of  wrong-doing  or  crime, 
whereas  the  former  contains  no  such  implication. 

irritate.     Compare  aggravate. 

irruption.     Compare  eruption. 

I  seen  him:  Vulgar  and  incorrect;  say  ^^  I  have 
seen  him  "  or  "  I  saw  him." 

Is  that  so?  One  of  a  class  of  vulgar  phrases  of 
which  other  examples  are  "  You  don't  say  "  ;  "  Don't 
you  know  "  ;  "  You  know  "  ;  "  Well  I  never,"  com- 
monly used  but  all  of  which  should  be  avoided  aJ 
ill-bred  and  undesirable  locutions. 

118 


Errors  in  English  in 

it 

is,  are  :  The  correct  use  of  these  words  depends 
in  a  measure  on  the  intention  of  the  writer  or  speaker. 
Therefore,  the  choice  of  a  singular  or  plural  verb 
in  cases  where  either  form  would  be  proper  is 
often  influenced  by  the  writer's  way  of  looking 
at  the  subject.  "  The  purpose  and  conception  of 
the  scheme  is  to  do  good."  Now  the  mistake 
with  this  sentence  is  that  either  "  purpose  and  con- 
ception "  represent  a  single  idea  (in  which  case 
they  may,  in  combination,  take  a  singular  verb), 
or  they  do  not  (in  which  case  they  require  a  plural 
verb),  and  that  in  the  former  case,  where  the 
nouns  express  a  similarity  of  sentiment,  one  of  the 
words  is  superfluously  used.  "  Jones  and  Smith  is 
solvent  '* :  yes,  as  a  firm,  though  as  individuals  they 
are  solvent. 

it :  Used  sometimes  in  such  manner  as  to  violate 
the  principles  of  grammatical  and  rhetorical  con- 
struction, as  when  referring  to  any  one  of  several 
words  or  clauses  preceding,  or  perhaps  to  some  idea 
merely  implied  or  hinted  at  in  what  has  gone  before, 
as  in  the  following  :  "  A  statute  inflicting  death  may, 
and  ought  to  be,  repealed,  if  //  be  in  any  degree  ex- 
pedient, without  its  being  highly  so."  In  this  sen- 
tence "  if  //  be  "  should  be  replaced  by  "  \i  stick  repeal 
be,'*  and  "  //j"  should  be  omitted. 

In  general,  personal  and  relative  pronouns  with 
ambiguous  reference  to  preceding  words  or  clauses 

119 


ivories  A  Desk-Book  of 

jollier 

in  the  sentence  are  stumbling-blocks  of  inexperienced 

or  careless  writers; 

ivories  :  A  slang  term  used  to  designate  the  keys 
of  a  piano ;  hence,  the  phrase,  tickle  the  ivories,  a 
coarse  way  of  expressing  ability  to  play  the  piano. 

J 

jag  :  Formerly  a  provincialism  for  ''  a  load  of 
hay  "  ;  now  a  euphemism  for  ''  drunk  ";  but  as  such 
a  term  to  be  avoided  in  polite  society. 

jar :  Used  in  the  phrase  "  Doesn't  (or  wouldn't) 
it  jar  you  "  is  an  erroneous  use  of  the  word  jar  in 
vogue  among  persons  addicted  to  using  the  vulgar- 
isms of  the  street.  To  jar  is  "to  cause  to  shake  as 
by  a  shock  or  blow ;  to  jolt  " ;  nof,  to  disconcert  or 
discompose. 

jaw  should  not  be  used  as  a  synonym  for  '*  mouth  " 
or  "  talk."  Such  expressions  as  "  Hold  your  jaw  "  ; 
"  Shut  your  jaw,"  and  "  What  are  you  jawing 
about  ?  "  have  no  place  in  the  vocabulary  of  persons 
of  refinement. 

Jew,  Hebrew,  Israelite  :  These  terms  are  some- 
times incorrectly  used  as  synonyms.  Hebrew  is  the 
ethnological  and  linguistic  name,  Israelite  the  na- 
tional name,  and  Jew  the  popular  name  of  the  peo- 
ple; as,  "The  Egyptians  oppressed  the  Hehreu^s''' \ 
"David  was  the  typical  king  of  the  Israelites''  ;  "The 
Jerivs  ro^olted  under  the  Maccabees."    The  three 

120 


Errors  in  English  ivories 

jollier 
names  have  their  special  application  to  the  people  in 
the  premonarchical  period  {Hebrew),  in  the  monarch 
ical  period  {Israelite),  and  in  the  period  subsequent 
to  the  return  from  the  Babylonian  captivity  {Jew), 

jewels,  jewelry:  Words,  sometimes,  but  mistakenly, 
used  interchangeably.  Jewels  forming  the  stock  in 
trade  of  a  jeweler  are  termed  collectively  jewelry,  the 
articles  of  adornment,  as  gems  and  precious  stones, 
worn  by  a  lady  are  her  jewels. 

jiggered,  to  be  :  A  form  of  minced  oath  sometimes 
used  as  an  equivalent  for  "to  be  hanged"  ;  as,  "I'  11 
be  jiggered  if  I  do  "  :  an  inelegant  form  of  oath  com- 
mon among  Engh'shmen. 

join  issue  :  Not  to  be  confounded  with  to  take  issue. 
To  take  issue  means  "to  deny"  ;  to  join  issue,  in 
strict  usage,  "to  admit  the  right  of  denial,"  but  not 
also  "to  agree  in  the  truth  of  the  denial."  In  th*? 
example  "In  their  career  father  and  son  meet,  join 
issue,  and  pursue  their  nefarious  occupation  in  con- 
junction," join  issue  is  improperly  used  for  "agree" 
or  "come  to  an  agreement."  To  join  issue  is  prop- 
eriy  'to  take  opposite  sides  of  a  case,"  etc. 

jollier  :  A  slang  term  used  to  designate  a  person 
who  treats  another  (from  whom  he  expects  a  favor, 
.>r  -with  whom  he  desires  cordial  relations)  pleasantly 
«nd  good-humcredly,  or  in  an  agreeable  w^ay  so  as  to 
obtain  his  end.  In  its  English  sense  a  jollier  is  one 
given  to  chaffing  and  joking  at  another's  expense. 

121 


joUy  A  Desk-Book  of 

kindness 

jolly.    Compare  nice. 

jolly,  to  :  The  occupation  of  a  jollier  :  slang  of 
widespread  usage.     Compare  jollier. 

josh  :  A  vulgarism  for  ''chaff,"  "hoax,"  or  "ban- 
ter," which  are  more  refined  terms. 

journal  :  From  the  French,  properly  means  daily. 
Therefore  to  speak  of  a  "daily  journal"  is  absurd. 
Say,  rather,  "  daily  paper. "  Likewise  avoid  "  weekly 
journal,''  "monthly  journal,''  "quarterly  journal** 
which  mean  weekly  daily,  monthly  daily,  quarterly 
daily,  and  are  forms  of  expression  in  popular  use  as 
examples  of  violent  catachresis.  Say,  rather,  "daily 
newspaper,"  "weekly  newspaper,"  "monthly"  or 
"quarterly  magazine"  or  "review,"  or  simply 
"monthly"  or  "quarterly." 

jump  at  or  to  :  To  embrace  eagerly,  as  an  offer  or 
opportunity.  In  this  sense  never  "jump  to,"  but  one 
inay  jump  to  the  floor,  as  from  a  chair, 

just  going  to.     Compare  going. 

K 

kettle  of  fish,  pretty  :  A  colloquial  phrase  for  "a 
perplexing  state  of  affairs,"  or  "a  muddle,"  both  of 
wLi^h  are  preferable  expressions. 

key,  quay  :  Exercise  care  in  the  use  of  these  words* 
A  key  is  that  with  which  something  is  opened  or  dis» 
closed;  also,  a  small  low-lying  island;  a  quay  is  a 
wharf  or  landing  place  where  ships  discharge  passen- 

122 


Errors  in   English  jolly 

kindness 
gers  or  cargo.  These  words  are  pronounced  alike. 
Compare  dock. 

kibosh  :  A  slang  term  for  "humbug."  To  put  the 
kibosh  on,  a  slang  phrase  for  "to  put  an  end  to  or 
stop  anything." 

kick  is  not  used  instead  of  "protest"  by  careful 
speakers,  notwithstanding  the  fact  that  George  Eliot 
introduced  it  into  literature  (see  Silas  Marner,  ch.  iv. 
p.  52).     The  term  is  slang. 

kid:  A  common  \Tjlgarism  for  *'  child  "  and  as  such 
one  the  use  of  which  can  not  be  too  severely  con- 
demned. 

kid  on  :  A  vulgarism  used  in  England  for  ''hum- 
bug; hoax;  or,  try  to  induce  one  to  believe  something 
that  is  not  true: " — no  kid,  no  kidding  :  Vulgar  terms 
for**  without  any  humbug."     Undesirable  locutions. 

killing.     Compare  pertectly. 

kinder  :  For  kind  of,  pronounced  as  one  word,  is 
merely  a  low  \Tilgarism.  The  same  remark  holds 
of   sorter  similarly  used   for   *'sort   of."     See  kind 

OF. 

kindness  :  WTien  used  in  the  plural  is  sometimes 
objected  to  on  the  ground  that  kindness  is  an  abstract 
noun.  **  He  wishes  to  express  gratitude  for  many  kind- 
nesses.'*' Nothing  is  commoner  than  the  making  of 
abstract  nouns  into  concrete  in  this  way;  "  affinities"  ; 
**  charities "  ;  *'His  tender  mercies  are  over  all  His 

works."    Besides,  by  **many  kindnesses^*  is  meant> 

123 


aind  A  Desk-Book  of 

last 

not  "much  kindness,"  nor  *' great  kindness,"  but 
"kindness  manifested  in  many  forms  or  shown  on 
many  occasions,  many  acts  of  kindness." 

kind  of  is  an  American  provinciaHsm  for  somewhat 
and  has  no  Hterar}^  authorization.  "I  am  somewhat 
tired''  should  be  substituted  for  "I  am  kind  of  tired." 
Again,  after  kind  of  do  not  use  the  indefinite  article. 
"What  kind  of  man"  is  preferable  to  "what  khid  of 


a  man." 


kind  of,  sort  of  :  Indefinite  phrases  used  by  some 
lexicographers  to  introduce  definitions;  as  "a  kind  of 
bird"  ;  "a  sort  of  box."  If  the  subject  treated  be  a 
bird  of  some  species  or  a  box  of  a  specific  make  it  is 
best  usage  to  describe  first  what  it  is  and  then  to 
follow  with  the  characteristics;  as,  "a  bird  of  the 
swallow  family,"  "  a  cage-like  box,"  etc. 

king-pin  is  not  a  desirable  substitute  for  "chief 
man"  or  "person  in  charge."  As  a  colloquialism  it 
should  be  avoided. 

kinsman.     Compare  relation. 

knife,  to  :  This  term  should  not  be  used  as  a  sub- 
stitute for  "  stab  "  or  "  defeat. "  Although  widely  used 
by  politicians  in  the  United  States  the  term  has  no 
justification  outside  of  ward  politics. 

knock,  to  :  Slang  for  "  to  harass  or  find  fault  with 
continually; "  a  similar  and  more  recent  word  used 
also   in    this    sense    is    hammer.      Both    should   be 

avoided. 

124 


Errors  in  English  kind 

last 

L 

lady  :  The  use  of  this  word  as  "a  mere  distinction 
of  sex  is  a  sheer  vulgarism."  Never  say  "A  man  and 
his  lady,''  but  "a  man  and  his  wife,"  or  preferably, 
by  name,  "Mr.  and  Airs.  John  Smith."  Where  wo- 
man, as  indicative  of  sex,  is  intended,  say  woman — 
not  lady  or  female.  A  female  is  equally  female, 
whether  person  or  beast.  In  the  United  States 
"woman"  is  preferable;  in  England  "lady"  is  used 
chiefly  when  the  term  is  not  preceded  by  a  qualifying 
adjective.  The  word  woman  best  expresses  the  rela- 
tion of  the  female  sex  to  the  human  race.  Some  ill- 
informed  persons  use  lady  for  womayi  under  the  mis- 
taken idea  that  woman  is  a  derogatory  term;  such  use 
is  downright  \ailgarity.  As  one  never  hears  sales- 
gentieman  but  salesman,  therefore  saleslady  should 
be  avoided  ;  say,  rather,  saleswoman. 

lambaste  is  slang  and  as  such  should  not  be  used 
as  a  substitute  for  "flog,"  "whip,"  or  beat." 

lassitudinous  is  not  a  desirable  substitute  for  "lan- 
guid" or  "weary." 

last,  latter  :  The  first  of  these  words  is  not  properly 
used  of  only  two,  since  it  is  a  superlative;  the  second, 
not  properly  of  more  than  two,  since  it  is  a  compara- 
tive. Notwithstanding  the  fact  that  the  use  of  last  for 
latter  and  of  latter  for  last  has  had  wide  sanction,  the 
present  tendency  is  toward  strict  construction. 

125 


last  A  Desk-Book  of 

least 
last  two.  Compare  first  and  two  first. 
lay,  lie  :  In  discriminating  the  uses  of  these  words 
the  Standard  Dictionary  says:  Lay,  vt.^  "to  put 
down,"  "to  cause  to  lie  down,"  is  a  causal  derivative 
of  lie,  vi.,  "to  rest."  The  principal  parts  of  the  two 
verbs  are  : 

Present.  Imperfect.  Past  Participle. 

lay,  vt.  laid  laid 

lie,  vi.  lay  lain 

The  identity  of  the  present  tense  of  lay,  vt.,  with  the 
imperfect  tense  of  lie,  vi.,  has  led  to  the  frequent  con- 
founding of  the  two  in  their  literary  usage.  Lay  (in 
the  present  tense)  being  transitive,  is  always  followed 
by  an  object;  lie,  being  intransitive,  never  has  an  ob- 
ject. Lay,  in  "I  lay  upon  thee  no  other  burden,"  is 
the  present  tense  oilay,  vt.,  having  as  its  object  burden; 
in  "I  lay  under  the  sycamore-tree  in  the  cool  shade," 
lay  is  the  imperfect  tense  of  lie,  vi.,  having  no  object; 
laid,  in  "I  laid  the  book  on  the  table,"  is  the  imper- 
fect tense  of  lay,  vt.,  having  as  its  object  hook.  The 
presence  or  absence  of  an  object,  and  the  character 
of  the  verb  as  transitive  or  intransitive,  may  be  de- 
cided by  asking  the  question  "  Lay  [  or  laid  ]  what  ?  " 
The  past  participles  of  the  two  verbs  (laid  and  lain) 
are  also  frequently  confounded.  Laid  in  tense-com- 
binations is  to  be  followed  by  a  object  always;  lain, 
never;  as,  "He  has  laid  (not  lain)  the  book  on  the 
table"  ;  "He  has  lain  (not  laid)  long  in  the  grave." 

126 


Errors  in  English  last 

least 

The  statement  in  present  time,  "The  soldier  lays 
aside  his  knapsack  and  lies  down,"  becomes  as 
a  statement  of  a  past  act;  as,  "The  soldier  laid 
aside  his  knapsack  and  lay  down"  ;  "The  hen  has 
laid  an  tgg'' \  "The  egg  has  lain  (too  long)  in  the 
nest." 

In  poetic  phraseology  especially,  the  transitive  lay 
(in  all  its  tenses)  is  used  reflexively  as  an  equivalent 
of  lie,  lay,  etc.,  as  in  the  following  examples  : 

Intransitive.  Transitive. 

Pres.  I  lie  down  =    I  lay  me  dowm. 

hnp.  I  lay  down  =^    I  laid  me  (myself)  down. 

Fut.    I  will  lie  down   =    I    will  lay    me    (myself) 

down. 
Pltip.  I  had  lain  down  =    I  had  laid  me    (myself) 

do^Ti. 

learn,  teach  :  Once  learn  was  good  English  for 
teach,  and  signified  both  the  imparting  as  well  as  the 
acquiring  of  knowledge.  An  example  of  this  use  may 
be  found  in  Shakespeare  {Romeo  and  Juliet)  and  the 
Book  of  Common  Prayer,  but  general  modern  usage 
restricts  learn  to  the  acquiring  and  teach  to  the  im- 
parting of  knowledge. 

least  :  Grammatical  ^^Titers  have  reason  on  their 
side  in  objecting  to  the  use  of  a  superlative  for  a  com- 
parative. "Of  two  evils  choose  the  less,^'  is  better 
than  "choose  the  least.'"  A  careful  speaker  will 
observe  this  form.     See  more  and  most. 

127 


leather  A    Desk-Book   of 

liable 

leather  as  a  colloquialism  for  "thrash"  should  not 
be  used  by  persons  accustomed  to  refined  diction. 

lease  and  hire  are  loosely  used  interchangeably. 
An  agent  says  he  has  property  to  hire  {  =  for  hire) 
while  the  tenant  says  he  leases  it.  Strictly,  the  for- 
mer leases  and  the  latter  hires. 

leave  is  used  transitively  and  intransitively,  but 
critics  have  objected  to  the  latter  use  on  the  ground 
that  the  verb  to  leave  is  not  expressive  of  any  occupa- 
tion— does  not,  in  fact,  of  itself  convey  any  complete 
idea.  It  is  true  that  if  you  speak  you  can  speak  only 
that  which  can  be  spoken,  whereas  if  you  leave  you 
may  leave  home  or  any  one  of  a  thousand  things;  but 
as  home  (business  or  domestic)  may  be  regarded  as 
the  chief  of  a  man's  possessions,  it  has  been  fancifully 
treated  as  being  the  one  all-important  subject  to  which 
unqualified  leaving  applies.  One  certainly  may  say 
with  propriety  "He  has  just  left"  ;  "We  leave  to- 
morrow." Avoid  such  locutions  as  "Leave  me 
alone"  ;  "leave  her  see  it,"  as  illiterate.  Use  let  in- 
stead of  leave. 

left,  to  get  :  A  slang  phrase  for  "to  be  left  behind; 
be  beaten  or  outdone."  Avoid  such  a  vulgarism  as 
"Did  you  ever  get  left?  " 

legacy.     Compare  bequest. 

lend.     Compare  loan. 

lengthen,  lengthy  :  The  verb  means  to  "make  oi 
to  grow  longer."    I<-s  participle  lengthened  no  more 

128 


Errors  In  English  leather 

liable 

means  "long"  than  heighkned  means  "high"  or 
strengthened  means  "strong."  It  is  correct  to  say 
"He  lengthened  the  discourse,  but  it  was  still  too 
short"  ;  but  not  to  say  "He  quoted  a  lengthened  pas- 
sage from  tbe  sermon."  In  the  latter  illustration 
lengthy  should  be  used.  A  sermon  is  lengthy  when 
"unusually  or  unduly  long"  (with  a  suggestion  of 
tediousness),  not  when  it  is  sii'  ply  "long." 

lengthways,  sideways,  endways  :  Common  but 
none  the  less  undesirable  variants  of  lefigthwise,  side- 
wise,  endii'ise. 

less.     Compare   few. 

lessen.     ComDare  reduce. 

let  her  rip  :  Farmer,  in  his  "Americanisms  Old 
and  New,"  says,  this  "most  vulgar  of  vulgarisms"  is 
used  to  convey  the  idea  of  intensity  of  action.  The 
phrase  is  coarse  and  should  not  be  used  as  a  substi- 
tute for  "go  ahead." 

level,  on  the  :  A  \nilgar  intensive  used  to  empha- 
size the  fact  that  the  thing  stated  is  stated  truthfully, 
or  that  the  person  spoken  of  is,  to  the  speaker's 
knowledge,  upright  and  "on  the  square."     Compare 

SQUARE. 

levy,  levee  :  Exercise  care  in  the  use  of  these  words. 
Levy  is  to  impose  and  collect  by  force;  levee,  sl  morn- 
ing reception. 

hable,  likely  :  The  first  of  these  words  which  is 
properly  used  as  expressive  of  "having  a  tendency" 

129 


libel  A  Desk-Book  of 

limited 

is  improperly  used  in  referring  to  a  contingent  event 
regarded  as  "very  probable."  Thus,  though  one 
should  not  say  "It  is  liable  to  storm,"  but  ^^ likely  to 
do  so,"  one  may  say,  "the  building  is  liable  to  be 
blown  down  by  the  storm." 

libel,  slander  :  These  are  not  synonymous  terms. 
Libel  differs  from  slander  in  that  the  latter  is  spoken 
whereas  the  former  is  written  and  published. 

lick  :  An  inelegant  term  used  colloquially  as  a  syn- 
onym for  "effort"  ;  as,  "he  put  in  his  best  licks. ^* 
Say,  rather,  "He  put  forth  his  best  efforts." 

lid  :  A  slang  term  for  cover,  hat,  etc.,  used  espe^ 
cially  in  the  phrases  keeping  the  lid  down,  sitting  on 
the  lid,  political  colloquialisms  for  closing  up  places 
of  business,  as  pool-rooms,  saloons,  etc.,  or  keeping  a 
political  situation  in  control. 

lie.     Compare  lay. 

lightening,  lightning  :  The  spelling  of  these  words 
is  sometimes  confused.  Lightening  is  to  relieve  "of 
weight"  ;  as,  "to  lighten  a  burden"  ;  lightning  is  a 
sudden  flash  of  light  due  to  pressure  caused  by  at- 
mospheric electricity.  The  shorter  word  designates 
the  flash  of  light. 

like,  in  the  adverbial  sense  of  "in  the  manner  of," 

as,  "He  speaks  like  a  philosopher,"  is  correctly  used, 

but  the  tendency  to  treat  this  word  as  a  conjunction 

(which  it  is  not)  in  substitution  for  as  is  altogether 

wrong.     Do  not  say  "Do  like   I  do";    say,  rather, 

130 


Errors  in  English  libel 

limited 
''Do  as  I  do."  It  is  also  a  colloquialism,  not  sanc- 
tioned by  good  usage,  to  give  the  word  the  significa- 
tion of  as  if,  as  "I  felt  like  my  final  hour  had  come"  ; 
and  the  use  of  the  word  as  synonymous  for  some- 
what is  a  \ailgarism.  Say  "He  breathed  somewhat 
heavily" — not  " hea\y /i^e. "  When  like  is  followed 
by  an  objective  case,  as  "Be  brave  like  him,"  the 
preposition  unto  must  be  supplied  by  ellipsis.  For 
this  reason  as  for  the  fact  that  like  here  has  the  force 
of  a  conjunction,  introducing  the  implied  phrase  "he 
is   brave,"  it  is  better  to  say  "Be  brave  as  he  is." 

like,  love  :  Discriminate  carefully  between  these 
words,  which  are  often  erroneously  used  interchange- 
ably. A  woman  may  love  her  children  and  like 
fruit,  but  not  like  her  children  and  love  fruit, 

likewise.     Compare  also. 

limb,  leg:  There  exists  an  affected  or  prudish  use  of 
the  word  limb  instead  of  leg,  when  the  leg  is  meant, 
which  can  not  be  too  severely  censured.  Such 
squeamishness  is  absurd. 

limit,  the  :  A  \'ulgarism  designating  the  extreme 
of  any  condition  or  situation  :  used  indiscriminately 
of  persons  or  conditions. 

limited  :  Often  erroneously  used  for  small,  scant, 
slight,  and  other  words  of  Hke  meaning;  as,  "He  had 
a  limited  (slight)  acquaintance  with  Milton"  ;  ''Sold 
at  the  limited  (low  or  reduced)  price  of  one  dollar"  ; 
"His  pecuniary  means  were  likely  to  remain  quite 

131 


lineament  A  Desk-Book  of 

lovelily 

limited" — admissible  if  suggesting  the  reverse  of  un- 
limited wealth,  otherwise  small  or  narrow. 

lineament,  liniment:  The  lineament  is  the  outline 
or  contour  of  a  body  or  figure,  especially  the  face. 
Liniment  is  a  medicated  liquid,  sometimes  oily,  which 
is  applied  to  the  skin  by  rubbing  as  for  the  relief  of 
pain.    Exercise  care  in  spelling  these  words. 

lip:  A  very  vulgar  substitute  for  "impudence." 

lit  in  the  sense  of  lighted  is  not  used  by  careful 
speakers.  Do  not  say  "Who  lit  (but  'who  lighted') 
the  gas?" 

lit  on:  A  common  error  for  "come  across,"  "met 
with,"  which  should  be  discountenanced.  Do  not 
say  "I  lit  on  the  quotation  by  accident" ;  say,  rather, 
"I  came  across  the  quotation."  Nor  "I  lit  on  him 
at  the  fair."  One  does  not  light  on  people  whom 
one  meets. 

little.    Compare  few. 

loan,  lend:  One  may  raise  (put  an  end  to)  a  loan 
by  paying  both  principal  and  interest,  and  another 
may  lend  money  to  do  so.  The  use  of  loan  as  a  verb, 
meaning,  "to  grant  the  loan  of  or  lend,  as  ships, 
money,  linen,  provisions,  etc.,"  dates  from  the  year 
1200  and  is  accepted  as  good  English.  Some  purists, 
however,  characterize  it  colloquial. 

lobster:  A  slang  term  used  originally  to  designate 
a  British  soldier,  probably,  in  the  phrase  boiled  lob- 
ster, from  his  red  coat :  now  applied  indiscriminately 

132 


Errors  in  English        lineament 

lovelily 
to  gullible  persons,  perhaps  on  account  of  the  reputed 
gullibility  of  the  British  soldier. 

lonely,  solitary  :  These  two  words  must  not  be  con- 
founded, for  their  meaning  is  not  exactly  the  same,  al- 
though the  Latin  solitarius  is  derived  from  solus,  alone. 
Solitary  indicates  no  more  than  absence  of  life  or  so- 
ciety ;  lonely  suggests  the  idea  of  being  forsaken  or 
isolated.  A  solitary  person  is  not  of  necessity  lonely, 
even  though  he  take  a  solitary  walk  in  a  lonely  place. 
A  man  is  not  lonely  if  he  is  good  company  to  himself. 

look  :  In  the  intransitive  sense  of  "seem,"  this  verb 
should  be  followed  by  an  adjective,  not  an  adverb. 
Thus,  "he  looks  kind  (not  kindly)."  It  is  otherwise 
in  the  sense  of  "exercising  the  sense  of  sight."  Here 
the  adverb  is  used  to  the  exclusion  of  the  adjective. 
"He  looks  kindly  (not  kind)  upon  the  fallen  foe." 
Actions  are  qualified  by  adverbs,  but  adjectives  qual- 
ify what  one  is  or  seems  to  be. 

lot  or  lots  :  A  slipshod  colloquialism  for  "great 
many"  ;  as,  "We  sold  a  lot  of  tickets"  ;  "'He  has  lots 
of  friends"  ;  to  be  avoided,  as  are  all  other  vague,  ill- 
assigned  expressions,  as  tending  to  indistinctness  of 
thought    and    debasement    of    language.     Compare 

HEAP. 

love.     Compare  like. 

lovelily  :  To  the  general  exclusion  of  this  word, 

lovely  is  now  made  to  do  duty  both  as  adverb  and 

adjective. 

133 


lovely  A  Desk-Book  of 

marine 

lovely  :  A  valuable  word  in  proper  use,  as  applied 
to  that  which  is  adapted  and  worthy  to  win  affection; 
but  as  a  colloquialism  improperly  appHed  indiscrim- 
inately to  every  form  of  agreeable  feeling  or  quality. 
A  bonnet  is  lovely^  so  is  a  house,  a  statue,  a  friend,  a 
poem,  a  bouquet,  a  poodle,  a  visit;  and  it  is  even  said 
after  an  entertainment,  "The  refreshments  were 
lovely  1  " — all  examples  of  careless  diction. 

low-priced  :  Often  confounded  with  cheap.  A 
thing  is  cheap  when  its  price  is  low  compared  with  its 
intrinsic  worth,  it  is  low-priced  when  but  little  is  paid 
or  asked  for  it.  A  low-priced  article  may  be  dear;  a 
cheap  article  may  not  be  low-priced;  as,  "  One  horse 
was  low-priced  (he  paid  only  $50  for  it),  and  it  was 
dear  at  that  price;  the  other  cost  him  $500,  but  was 
cheap  at  that  price." 

lurid  should  not  be  used  for  brilliant.  Lurid 
means  ''giving  a  ghastly,  or  dull-red  light,  as  of  flames 
mingled  with  smoke,  or  reflecting  or  made  visible  by 
such  hght.  '* 

luxuriant,  luxurious  :  These  words  are  not  iden- 
tical in  sense.  The  former  signifies  growth,  as  "  hair 
of  luxuriant  growth"  ;  the  latter  implies  luxury,  as 
^^ luxurious  ease." 

*'  But  grace  abused  brings  forth  the  fondest  deeds, 
As  richest  soil  the  most  luxuriant  weeds." 

**  And  send  the  sentinel  before  your  gate 
A  sUce  or  two  from  your  luxurious  meals." 

134 


Errors  in  English  lovely 


marine 


M 

mad  :  Used  for  "angry"  by  the  careless  or  the  in- 
different. A  colloquialism  not  in  vogue  among  per- 
sons who  use  refined  diction.  Mad  may,  however,  be 
used  correctly  to  designate  a  condition  of  overmaster- 
ing emotion,  intense  excitement,  or  infatuation  due  to 
grief,  terror,  or  jealousy;  as  inad  with  grief;  mad  with 
terror.  Formerly  used  correctly  as  a  synonym  for 
"angrv"  it  is  now  used  only  colloquially  in  this  sense. 
Mad,  in  the  present  day,  denotes  a  species  of  insanity. 

main  guy:  A  vulgar  phrase  derived  from  circus  cant 
in  which  it  designates  the  chief  guy-rope  as  of  a  tent. 
It  is  commonly  used  to  designate  the  manager  of  an  es- 
tablishment, or  the  person  in  charge  of  an  undertaking. 

make  :  Often  used  incorrectly  for  "  earn. "  Do  not 
say  ''How  much  does  he  make  a  week?  "  Say, 
rather,  "How  much  does  he  earn  a  week?  " 

man.     Compare  gent. 

manifest.     Compare  apparent. 

manner  born,  to  the  :  A  phrase  often  incorrectly 
WTitten  to  the  manor  from  a  faulty  knowledge  of  its 
meaning — familiar  with  something  from  birth,  or  born 
to  the  use  or  manner  of  the  thing  or  subject  referred  to. 

marine,  maritime,  naval,  nautical  :  There  are  dis- 
tinctions among  these  words.  Marine  and  maritime y 
ivom  the  Latin  mare,  the  sea,  signify  belonging  to  the 
sea;  naval,  from  the  Latin  navis,  a  ship,  signifies  be- 

135 


marry  A    Desk-Book   ot 

merely 

longing  to  a  ship;  nautical^  from  the  Latin  natita^  a 

sailor,  signifies  belonging  to  a  sailor  or  to  the  sailor's 

pursuit,  navigation.     A  maritime  nation  must  be  well 

suppHed  with  marine  stores,  must  have  alargewaz;a/ 

force  and  be  skilled  in  matters  nautical. 

marry:  Now  used  correctly  of  both  acceptance  in 
marriage  and  union  in  matrimony  :  formerly  con- 
demned as  incorrect. 

masses  :  The  tjmsses,  in  the  sense  of  the  common 

people,  the  great  body  of  the  people,  exclusive  of  the 
wealthy  or  privileged,  has  so  entered  into  popular 
speech  that  the  expression  is  now  beyond  criticism, 
although  exception  has  been  taken  to  it,  on  the  ground 
that  the  subject  of  the  mass  should  be  specifically 
named.     The  masses  of  what  ? 

matinee  from  the  French  matin,  morning,  is  strictly 
a  morning  reception;  and  to  talk  of  an  '' afternoon 
m^titiee"  is  therefore,  if  not  a  solecism,  a  contradic- 
tion in  terms.  Still  nowadays  the  word  is  used  to 
mean  an  afternoon  rather  than  a  morning  reception,  or 
entertainment. 

me  :  ''It  is  /,"  never  "It  is  me."  And  so  with  all 
personal  pronouns  following  the  verb  to  be  and  in  ap- 
position with  its  subject.  The  same  form  of  error  is 
constantly  made  in  such  phrases  as  "She  is  better 
looking  than  we,"  where,  if  the  elliptical  verb  were 
supplied,  the  correct  construction  would  readily  be 
seen  to  be  "She  is  better  looking  than  /  (am)." 

136 


Errors  in  English  marry 

merely 

mean  :  A  word  often  erroneously  used.  Its  generic 
meaning  is  "common"  and  therefrom  it  has  been  ac- 
cepted as  meaning  "  of  humble  origin,  of  low  rank  or 
quality,  of  inferior  character  or  grade"  and  is  used  in 
England  as  a  synonym  for  "miserly  in  expenditure, 
stingy. "  In  the  United  States  it  is  commonly  misused 
as  a  substitute  for  "ill-tempered;  disagreeable." 

mean.     Compare  intend. 

means  :  As  yneans  or  some  means  covers  ''any 
means,"  it  is  pleonastic  to  write  "iy  some  means  or 
another.''^  For  the  same  reason  some  means  or  other 
may  be  condemned;  its  only  excuse  is  that  "other" 
refers  not  to  "means"  but  quahfies  the  word  "  proce- 
dure "  (understood).  If  this  form  of  speech  is  desired, 
the  correct  utterance  would  be  one  mean  or  another. 

memoranda  should  never  be  used  as  a  singular.  It 
is  the  plural  of  memorandum  and  the  distinction  should 
always  be  observed  in  speech  or  \\Titing. 

me  or  my  going  :  Erroneous  combinations  some- 
times used  by  persons  careless  with  their  diction.  Dc 
not  say  "Instead  of  7ne  (or  7ny)  going  to  London  I 
went  to  Bermuda"  ;  say,  rather,  "Instead  of  going 
.     .     ."     Here  "me"  and  "my"  are  redundant. 

merely  :  Sometimes  misused  for  simply.  Merely 
implies  no  addition;  simply,  no  admixture  or  com- 
Dlication;  e.g.,  "The  boys  were  there  merely  as  spec- 
tators; it  is  simply  incredible  that  they  should  have 
so  disgraced  themselves"  ;  "It  is  simply  water." 

137 


midst  A  Desk-Book  of 

monetary 

midst  :  The  Standard  Dictionary  has  the  follow- 
ing :  "In  our,  your,  or  their  midst^  in  the  midst  of  us, 
you,  or  them  :  a  form  pronounced  analogically  irre- 
proachable by  Fitzedward  Hall,  in  Modern  English^ 
p.  50,  but  objected  to  by  some  authorities."  Dr. 
William  Mathews  is  one  of  these.  In  his  work  on 
"Words  :  their  Use  and  Abuse,"  he  asks  "Would  any 
one  say  *In  our  middle?  '  .  .  .  The  possessive 
pronoun  can  properly  be  used  only  to  indicate  posses- 
sion or  appurtenance." 

mighty  used  as  a  synonym  for  very,  exceedingly,  or 
extraordinarily  is  colloquial  but  borders  on  the  vulgar. 
*^ Mighty  fine,"  "A  mighty  shame,"  ^^ Mighty  doubt- 
ful" are  phrases  to  be  avoided. 

misspell  :  Do  not  write  this  word  mispell.  Its 
component  parts  are  mis  +  spell,  and  it  retains  the 
double  s, 

mistakable  :  Although  formerly  correctly  mistake- 
able  this  word  does  not  now  retain  the  "e"  after  the 
"k" — an  evidence  of  speUing  reform  along  lines  of 
least  resistance  due  probably  to  phonology. 

mistaken  :  Originally  mistake  meant  "to  take 
amiss,  misconceive,  or  misunderstand,"  and  on  this 
account  some  persons  claim  that  yoii  are  mistaken 
means  "you  are  misunderstood"  ;  and  that  when 
this  observation  is  made  it  expresses  precisely  the  re- 
verse of  the  meaning  that  the  speaker  desires  to  con- 
vey.   According  to  them  to  tell  a  man  he  is  mistaken^ 

138 


Errors  in  English  midst 

monetary 
that  is,  misunderstood,  is  a  very  different  thing  from 
telling  him  that  he  mistakes  or  personally  misunder- 
stands. 

The  Standard  Dictionary  treating  this  word  says: 
The  anomalous  use  of  mistaken  has  naturally  attracted 
the  attention  of  speech-reformers;  we  ought  to  mean, 
"You  are  misapprehended  or  misunderstood,"  they 
tell  us,  when  we  say  "You  are  mistaken, ^^  and  if  we 
mean  "You  are  in  error,"  we  ought  to  say  so.  But 
suppose  the  alleged  misuse  of  mistaken  gives  rise  to 
no  misunderstanding  whatever — that  everybody,  high 
or  low,  throughout  the  English-speaking  world,  knows 
what  is  meant  when  one  says  "You  are  mistaken^^ — 
in  that  case,  to  let  alone  seems  to  be  wisdom.  The 
corruption,  if  it  be  one,  has  the  sanction  not  only  of 
universal  employment,  but  of  antiquity. 

mitten  :  An  obsolete  substitute  for  glove  now  re- 
vived as  a  colloquialism  in  the  phrase  to  get  the  mit- 
ten, that  is  "to  get  the  glove  with  the  hand  with- 
drawn :  said  of  a  rejected  suitor  for  a  lady's  hand. " 
An  allied  phrase  is  to  give  the  mitten  to.  None  of 
these  is  used  in  polite  society. 

moment,  minute  :  These  words  are  not  exactly 
synonymous.  A  moment  is  an  infinitesimal  part  of 
time;  as,  "in  a  moment,  in  the  twinkling  of  an  eye" 
(I  Cor.  XV.  52).  A  minute  is  the  sixtieth  part  of  an 
hour.     One  does  not  take  a  minute  to  wink  the  eye. 

monetary.     Compare  financial. 

139 


moneys  A  Desk-Book  of 

most 

moneys,  not  monies,  although  often  so  (improperly) 
spelt.  The  rule  is  clear.  Words  ending  in  y  neces- 
sarily have  as  their  penultimate  letter  either  a  vowel 
or  a  consonant.  If  a  vowel  the  plural  is  formed  by 
adding  s;  if  a  consonant  by  changing  the  y  into  ies. 
Thus,  hoy^  hoys;  baby,  babies. 

money  to  burn  :  A  slang  phrase  used  to  denote  pos- 
session of  ample  means. 

more  :  Superlatives  are  often  used,  though  im- 
properly in  a  comparison  of  two.  "He  is  the  more 
promising  pupil  of  the  tw^o  " — not  most.  Certain 
scrupulously  careful  writers,  as  Augustine  Birrell,  will 
even  write  "the  m,ore  part,"  instead  of  the  customary 
"the  most  part  "  ;  and  this  usage,  though  possibly 
pedantic,  is  in  other  respects  to  be  commended. 

more  strictly  correct  :  A  pleonasm.  A  correct 
statement  may  for  the  sake  of  emphasis  be  qualified 
as  strictly  correct.  If  "more  strictly  correct"  is  good 
grammar  then  "most  strictly  correct"  would  be  also. 
Both  sentences  are  erroneous. 

more  than  probable  :  That  which  is  probable  is 
likely  to  happen,  but  that  which  is  more  than  prob- 
able is  almost  sure  to  happen.  To  object  to  "more 
than  probable,"  as  some  persons  do,  one  would  have 
to  show  that  "  probable"  was  absolute  and  incapable 
of  degrees  of  comparison,  whence  of  course  it  is  a 
matter  of  common  observation  that  some  things  are 
highly  probable,  wnile  others  are  barely  so.     That  a 

140 


Errors  in  English  moneys 

most 
lover  of  truth  will  speak  the  truth  is  highly  probable, 
whereas  that  a  confirmed  liar  will  do  so  is  so  little 
probable  that  the  probabilities  are  on  the  other  side. 

'most  :  Often  used  colloquially  but  incorrectly  for 
"almost"  ;  an  inexcusable  and  unwarranted  abbre- 
viation. Do  not  say  *'my  work  is  most  done  "  ;  say 
rather,  ".  .  .  is  almost  done."  Most  is  used  oc- 
casionally and  correctly  for  "very" — a  use  that  some 
^Titers  condemn  as  incorrect  but  which  is  sanctioned 
by  Hterar}'  usage.  Shakespeare  says  :  "  So,  Sir,  heart- 
ily well  met,  and  ftwst  glad  of  your  company." — Cor- 
iolanus,  iv.  3. 

most  is  well  used  as  a  superlative.  Most  per- 
fect, thorough,  intense,  complete,  extraordinary,  are 
in  common  use   and  have  the   support   of  literary 


usage. 


Frederic  Johnston  says  :  "Concerning  the  phrase 
'most  perfect'  some  question  might  be  raised.  'Per- 
fect' means,  literally,  'made  through,  to  the  end,' 
'utterly  finished,'  therefore,  of  supreme  excellence. 
In  that  case,  'more'  and  'most'  perfect  are  meaning- 
less. We  are  to  remember,  however,  that  the  literal 
is  not  alwavs  the  true  m^eaning  of  a  word.  Thus 
'melancholy'  does  not  mean  full  of  'black  bile,'  but 
'gloomy'  for  any  reason.  ^Moreover,  it  has  of  late 
been  pointed  out  by  the  best  authorities  that  the  true 
sense  of  a  word  is  not  what  it  ought  to  mean,  but  what 
it  does  mean,  in  the  mouths  and  ears  of  the  upper  half 
of  the  people.  And  there  can  be  little  doubt  that 
'perfect,'  in  this  case,  merely  exoresses  great  rather 

141 ' 


'most  A  Desk-Book  of 

mutual 

than  supreme  excellence.  We  may  even  sav,  further, 
that  the  word  in  its  original  sense  could  not  be  used 
without  a^  qualifying  word  (as  '  nearly  perfect '  for 
example)  in  a  world  in  which  nothing 'is  utterly  free 
from  defect.  To  go  about  saying  that  things  are 
nearly  perfect'  would  be  gross  pedantry." 

For  the  sanction  of  literary  usage  see  the  quotations: 
"  It  would  be  strange,  doubtless,  to  cfill  this  the 
best  of  Burns's  writings :  we  mean  to  say,  only,  that 
it  seems  to  us  the  most  perfect  of  its  kind  as  a 
piece  of  poetical  composition  strictly  so  called." 
— Carlyle,  Essay  on  Biirjis^  referring  to  his  poem 
"  The  Jolly  Beggars." 

*' Our  battle  is  more  full  of  names  than  yours, 
Our  men  more  perfect  in  the  use  of  arms." 

— Shakespeare,  2  Hen.  IV.  iv.  i. 
''' Most  perfect  goodness."    — Cymbelinel.  7. 

mought  :  Although  recorded  by  the  dictionaries  as 
the  imperfect  of  "may"  and  often  used  for  might,  the 
use  is  one  which  does  sufficient  violence  to  euphony 
to  be  characterized  as  undesirable. 

muchly  :  Although  formerly  in  vogue  is  now  obsolete 
and  stigmatized  as  slang,  an^i  as  such  to  be  avoided. 

mug  ;  A  vulgar  characterization  for  the  human  face, 

murderous  should  not  be  used  for  ''dangerous"  01 
**  deadly." 

music.     See  chin. 

Mussulman  :  The  plural  of  this  word  is  formed  by 
adding  5 — Mussulmans  not  Mussulwew.  Here  the 
word  ''man"  is  no  component  part  of  Mussulman 

143 


Errors  in  English  'most 

mutual 

mutual,  common  :  These  words  are  often  con- 
founded and  have  been  so  by  writers  of  correct  Eng- 
lish. Mutual  implies  interchange;  common  belonging 
to  more  than  two  persons.  Before  the  middle  of  the 
eighteenth  century  ymutual  had  two  meanings:  "joint" 
or  "common,"  and  "reciprocal."  When  Dr.  Samuel 
Johnson  published  his  great  dictionary  he  gave  it  but 
one  meaning,  that  of  reciprocal^  and,  his  authority  as 
a  scholar  having  gro^^m  so  great,  this  meaning  became 
considered  the  onlv  one  which  might  be  correctlv  given 
to  the  word.  ^'Mutual,''  says  Crabb,  "supposes  a 
sameness  in  condition  at  the  same  time;  reciprocal 
supposes  an  alternation  or  succession  of  returns." 
Thus  we  properly  speak  of  "our  common  country, 
mutual  affection,  reciprocal  obligations."  While  mu- 
tual applies  to  the  acts  and  opinions  of  persons,  and 
therefore  to  what  is  personal,  it  is  not  applicable  to 
persons.  Macaulay  condemned  the  phrase  ^^  mutual 
friend"  as  a  low  xoilgarism.  A  ^^ common  friend"  is 
certainly  more  accurate  but  unfortunately  carries  with 
it  the  disagreeable  idea  of  inferiority,  and  probably 
for  this  reason  is  seldom  or  never  used.  There  is 
authority  of  such  prolific  ^^Titers  as  Scott  and  Dickens 
for  '^mutual  friend,"  but  the  rapidity  with  which  they 
\^TOte  their  books  may  suggest  that  they  paid  little  heed 
to  such  refinements  of  language  as  did  Macaulay 
Yet  centuries  of  English  literature  authorize  the  em- 
ployment of  mutual  in  the  sense  of  joint  or  common, 

143 


my  A  Desk-Book  of 

neither 

On  the  other  hand,  the  very  strong  disapproval  with 
which  this  and  like  uses  of  mutual  are  regarded  by 
many  writers  of  good  taste  may  not  unreasonably  be 
considered  as  sufficient  ground  for  avoiding  mutual 
friend  and  kindred  expressions.  '' Mutual  friends/* 
says  Phelps,  "would  not  be  accurate"  meaning  that 
two  persons  are  friends  each  to  the  other. 

my.     Compare  me. 

myself  :  An  emphatic  pronoun  sometimes  misused 
for  "I"  or  "me"  ;  as,  "The  property  was  willed  to 
my  wafe  and  myself. ^^  For  "myself"  substitute  "to 
me"  and  the  sentence  is  correct.  "Myself"  is  U3ed 
correctly  with  a  reflexive  verb,  that  is,  one  whose  ob- 
ject, expressed  or  implied,  denotes  the  same  person 
or  thing  as  the  subject;  e.  g.,  "I  will  control  77iyselfP 

N 

nasty  :  This  word  should  not  be  applied  to  that 
which  is  merely  "disagreeable,"  as  nasty  weather,  for 
strong  terms  should  not  be  robbed  of  their  significance 
by  being  applied  to  conditions  which  could  only 
be  referred  to  in  such  terms  by  exaggeration.  A 
pigsty  is  properly  termed  nasty,  as  there  filth  finds  its 
habitat,  and  an  obscene  book  is  n  isty  as  morally  foul. 

naught.     Compare  ought  under  aught. 

need,  needs  :  As  an  adverb  need  is  now  obsolete; 

needs  means  "necessarily."     Do  not  say  "as  need  he 

must,"  say,  rather,  "as  needs  he  must." 

144 


Errors  in   English  my 

neither 

neglect,  negligence  :  The  meanings  of  these  words 
are  sometimes  confused.  Neglect  is  the  act  of  failing 
to  perform  something,  as  a  duty  or  task,  to  leave  un- 
done; negligence  is  the  habitual  omission  of  that  which 
should  be  done.  Negligence  is  a  trait  of  character 
while  neglect  may  result  from  preoccupation.  Fernald 
in  "Synonyms,  Antonyms,  and  Prepositions,"  says: 
^^  Neglect  is  transitive,  negligence  is  intransitive;  we 
speak  of  neglect  of  his  books,  friends,  or  duties,  in 
which  case  we  could  not  use  negligence." 

negociate,  negotiate  :  The  first,  now  obsolete,  was 
the  spelling  formerly  in  vogue;  the  second  is  the  cor- 
rect spelling  of  to-day. 

neither,  either  :  For  "none"  and  "any  one,  "is  not 
the  best  usage;  "That  he  [Shakespeare]  ^Tote  the 
plays  which  bear  his  name  we  know;  but  .  .  . 
we  do  not  know  the  years  ...  in  which  either 
(correctly,  any  one)  of  them  was  first  performed"  ; 
"Peasant,  yeoman,  artisan,  tradesman,  and  gentle- 
man could  then  be  distinguished  from  one  anothei 
almost  as  far  as  they  could  be  seen.  Except  lu 
cases  of  unusual  audacity,  neither  (correctly,  no 
one,  or  7ione)  presumed  to  wear  the  dress  of  his 
betters." 

neither,  nor  :  In  considering  these  words  the 
Standard  Dictionary  says  :  "'  As  disjunctive  correl- 
atives, each  accompanied  by  a  singular  nominative, 

often  incorrectly  followed  by  a  plural  verb  form;  as, 

145 


>  n 


nerve  A  Desk-Book  of 

nightly 

'neither  he  nor  I  were  (correctly  was)  there. 
Neither,  that  is,  7tot  either,  means  not  the  one  nor  the 
other  of  two.  ''  Through  dihgence  he  attained  a  posi- 
tion which  he  jieither  aspired  to  nor  coveted" — the 
proper  correlative  to  use  here  is  nor. 

nerve  :  A  slang  term  sometimes  used  as  a  substi- 
tute for  "impudence,"  "over-assurance"  or  "inde- 
pendence," any  one  of  which  is  preferable. 

never,  not  :  While  literary  authority  sanctions  the 
use  of  never  for  not  in  cases  where  a  lapse  of  consid- 
erable time  is  thought  of,  as,  "  I  shall  be  there — never 
fear"  (for  do  not  fear  now,  or  at  any  time  in  the  in- 
terim, that  I  shall  disappoint  you),  it  does  not  justify 
its  use  in  a  sentence  where  the  time  referred  to  is  mo- 
mentary or  short.  The  emphatic  use  of  this  adverb 
in  the  sense  of  not  a  single  one,  not  at  all,  is  perfectly 
good,  as  instanced  by  Coleridge — "  And  never  a  saint 
took  pity  on  my  soul  in  agony."  But  the  usage  will 
not  sanction  an  extension  to  things  which,  from  their 
very  nature,  could  take  place — as,  say,  death — but 
once.  Thus,  do  not  say  "Robert  Fulton  never  in- 
vented the  steamboat"  ;  say,  rather,  "Robert  Fulton 
did  not  invent  the  steamboat."  "Paul  Jones  was 
never  born  in  the  United  States"  is  incorrect.  Say 
".  .  .  was  not  born  in  the  United  States."  Do 
not  say  "I  met  him  to-day  but  he  never  mentioned 
the  subject."     Say,  rather  "...     but  he  did  not 

mention  the  subject." 

146 


Errors  in  English  nerve 

^  nightly 

never  so  :  Often  misused  for  ever  so  from  which  it 
should  be  carefully  discriminated.  Never  so  means 
"  to  an  extent  or  degree  beyond  the  actual  or  conceiv- 
able; no  matter  how."  In  common  use  ever  so^ 
meaning  no  more  than  "very"  or  "exceedingly,"  is 
often  confounded  with  and  used  for  nei>er  so. 

never  mean  :  A  common  slip  of  the  tongue  in  such 
phrases  as  "I  never  mean  to"  which  is  frequently 
used  when  "I  7nean  never  to"  is  intended.     Compare 


don't. 


nibs  :  A  ^oilgar  title  given  usually  satirically,  to  a 
person  in  authority;  as  "His  nihs  sailed  to-day"  :  a 
term  to  avoid. 

nice  :  This  word  has  undergone  a  peculiar  trans- 
formation in  sense.  Derived  from  the  Latin  nescius^ 
ignorant,  and  originally  meaning  "ignorant,  silly 
weak,"  it  has  now  come  to  signify  "characterized  by 
discrimination  and  judgment,  acute,  discerning ;  as, 
a  nice  criticism."  The  word  has,  however,  also  been 
used  colloquially  in  the  sense  of  "pleasing,  jolly,  or 
sociaUy  agreeable;  as,  a  nice  girl,"  and  the  use  has 
been  condemned  but  is  too  well  established  to  be 
abandoned. 

nicely  as  a  colloquialism  for  "very  well" — as  "He 
is  doing  nicely  ^^ — should  be  avoided. 

nifty  :  A  voiigarism  for  "stylish." 

nightly,  nocturnal  :  These  words  do  not  have  the 

same  signification.     The  one  means  night  by  night, 

147 


no  A  Desk- Book  of 

none 

the  other  happening  at  night.  A  man  has  nightly 
sleep  in  which  he  suffers  from  nocturnal  dreams. 

no  :  According  to  critics  no  never  properly  qualifies 
a  verb,  that  is,  it  should  never  be  substituted  for 
**not."     But  the  practise  has  Hterary  sanction. 

no  :  Often  used  for  "any"  by  the  illiterate.  Do 
not  say  "We  didn't  see  no  flats"  ;  say,  rather,  "We 
did  not  see  any  flats." 

nobby  :  A  vulgar  synonym  for  ''having  an  elegant 
or  flashy  appearance;  showy;  stylish"  :  haberdash- 
er's cant.     Compare  noty. 

nohow  :  A  vulgarism  for  "in  no  way"  or  "by  no 
means."  If  after  a  negative,  say  "in  any  way,"  "by 
any  means,"  "at  all."  "I  don't  believe  in  them 
nohow^'  should  be  "I  don't  believe  in  them  in  the 
^easty^'  or  "a/  a//." 

nominate  :  Distinguish  from  "denominate,"  which 
is  now  only  an  obsolete  sense  of  the  word.  To  nom- 
inate is  to  designate  or  specify;  as,  "Is  it  so  nominated 
in  the  bond?  "  whereas  to  "denominate"  is  to  give  a 
name  or  epithet  to.  Washington  was  nominated  pres- 
ident, but  was  denominated  "Father  of  his  country." 

nominatives  :  The  coupling  of  singular  and  plural. 
What  number,  singular  or  plural,  shall  the  verb  take. 
It  couples  two  sentences — one  on  either  side — the  one 
having  a  singular  nominative  and  the  other  a  plural. 
As  to  which  sentence  shall  be  first  and  which  second, 
there  is  commonly  but  little  compulsion  :  it  is  a  mat- 

148 


Errors  in  English  no 

none 
ter  of  choice.  But  should  this  choice  affect  the  verb  ? 
— "  The  wages  of  sin  is  death. "  "  Death  is  the  wages 
of  sin. "  It  is  merely  a  matter  of  taste  in  forceful  dic- 
tion which  nominative  shall  precede.  Yet  which  is 
to  govern  the  number  of  the  verb?  "What  we  seek 
is  riches";  "Riches  are  what  we  seek" — Probably 
these  two  forms  of  one  idea  best  illustrate  the  better 
usage,  which  appears  to  be  that  the  verb  is  dependent 
upon  the  nominative  which  precedes.  In  explanation 
of  the  scriptural  phrase,  it  may  be  stated  that  although 
the  prevaiKng  rule  with  the  translators  of  the  Bible 
appears  to  have  been  to  use  plural  verbs  when  either 
nominative  was  plural  (that  is,  in  all  such  cases),  stiU 
*  Death,"  being  here  that  upon  which  special  empha- 
sis is  laid  and  to  which  attention  is  particularly  drawn, 
is  permitted  to  govern  the  verb. 

no  more  :  Often  incorrectly  used  for  "any  more." 
Do  not  say  "I  don't  want  to  see  you  no  more''  ;  but 
"I  don't  want  to  see  you  any  more,''  or  '^  again." 

none  :  Although  etymologically  equivalent  to  not 
(a  single)  one  this  word  is  commonly  used  as  a  singu- 
lar under  a  mistaken  idea  that  it  can  not  be  used  cor- 
rectly as  a  plural,  but  many  wTiters  of  standard  ' 
English  have  used  it  as  a  plural.  The  Standard 
Dictionary  authorizes  the  use  of  the  word  both  as 
a  singular  and  plural  according  to  the  meaning  of  the 
context.  Where  the  singular  or  the  plural  equall)! 
expresses  the  sense,  the  plural  is  commonly  used  an  \ 

149 


nor  A  Desk-Book  of 

notorious 

is  justified  by  the  highest  authority.  "Did  you  buy 
melons?  "  " There  w^r^  wowe  in  the  market. "  "Did 
you  bring  me  a  letter?  "  *' There  was  none  in  your 
box."  ^^ None  of  the  three  cases  have  been  received" 
is  correct.  In  illustrating  this  point  the  Standard 
Dictionary  gives  the  following  quotation  :  "Mind 
says  one,  soul  says  another,  brain  or  matter  says  a 
third,  but  none  of  these  are  right."  And  says,  "In 
the  preceding  quotation  the  'are,'  altho  ungrammati- 
cal,  connects  'right'  with  any  one  of  the  persons 
named — not  with  any  one  of  the  things  named.  If  is 
be  substituted  for  '  are, '  *  right '  may  be  as  reasonably 
connected  with  'mind,'  'soul,'  or  'brain'  as  with  the 
persons  (or  classes  of  persons)  spoken  of."  None 
used  with  a  plural  verb  is  found  repeatedly  in  such 
English  classics  as  the  works  of  Bacon  and  Shakes- 
peare, as  well  as  in  the  Authorized  Version  of  the 
Bible. 

nor,  or  :  Discriminate  carefully  between  these  words 
when  using  them  after  no  and  7iot,  In  such  a  sentence 
as  "He  has  no  cash  or  credit,"  the  word  "credit"  is 
used  as  an  alternative  for  "cash,"  and  merely,  though 
perhaps  redundantly,  to  amplify  the  thought.  But 
if  one  says  "He  has  no  cash  7ior  credit"  the  meaning 
is  very  different,  and  implies  he  is  without  both, 
"credit"  being  here  considered  as  an  additional  asset. 
In  more  involved  statements  the  distinction  may  be 
of  great  importance.     "Will  or  disposition,"  "power 

150 


Errors  in   English  no? 

notorious 
or  faculty,"  may  be  but  pairs  of  synonyms.  The  lo- 
cution "will  nor  disposition/'  "power  nor  faculty," 
distinguishes  the  two  members  of  a  pair  as  different 

not.     Compare  never. 

notable  ;  Discriminate  carefully  between  the  differ- 
ent meanings  of  this  word.  A  no'tahle  event  is  an 
event  worthy  of  note;  a  not'ahle  woman  is  one  who 
exercises  care  or  skill  or  is  prudent  as  in  housewifery. 

noted.     Compare  notorious. 

nothing  like  ;  Not  to  be  used  adverbially  for  not 
7iearly.  Do  not  say  "He  was  nothing  like  as  hand- 
some as  his  brother,"  but  "He  was  not  nearly  so 
handsome,"  etc. 

nothing  to  nobody  :  An  ungrammatical  phrase  used 
for  "no  one's  business."  Say,  rather^  "not  anything 
to  any  one. " 

not  on  your  life  :  A  \'ulgar  phrase  for  "  not  by  any 

means." 

notorious  is  so  commonly  applied  to  that  which  is 
unfavorably  kno\Mi  to  the  general  public,  as  a  notor- 
ious crime,  just  as  noted  is  applied  to  that  which  is 
favorably  distinguished,  as  a  noted  speech,  that  it  is 
well  not  to  confound  the  expressions,  but  to  reser^^e 
their  use  for  their  own  several  functions.  However, 
the  rule  is  not  invariably  followed;  for  the  following 
expression  by  Spencer,  on  " Education"  is  good.  " It 
Is  notorious  that  the  mind  like   the  body,  can   not 

dssimilate  beyond  a  certain  rate." 

151 


no  A  Desk-Book  of 

of 

no  use  :  Often  incorrectly  used  for  "of  no  use.'* 
Do  not  say  "It's  no  use  to  discuss  it  with  you,"  say, 
rather,  "It  is  of  no  use  to  discuss  it." 

novice.     Compare  amateur. 

number  should  not  be  used  with  such  words  as 
innumerable  and  numerous,  which  themselves  contain 
the  idea  of  number  (Latin  numerus).  Say  "A  counU 
less  number,"  not  "an  innumerable  number." 

numerous  :  O^'ten  misused  for  7nany.  Do  not  say 
^^ numerous  cattle  were  in  pasture"  ;  say,  rather, 
**Many  cattle  were  in  pasture." 

nutty  :  Used  in  the  sense  "lacking  in  intelligence," 
this  word  is  a  vulgarism  to  be  avoided. 

o 

obnoxious  :  Formerly  this  word  meant  "liable, 
amenable,  subject,"  but  the  meaning  is  sometimes 
forgotten  in  the  more  recently  acquired  sense,  "  odious, 
hurtful."  This  difference  is  beautifully  illustrated 
by  a  question  propounded  lo  Dean  Alford— "  Which 
of  these  two  is  right,  'Death  is  obnoxious  to  man'  or 
*  Men  are  obnoxious  to  death?  '  ' '  Death,  or  the  idea 
of  death,  is  certainly  distasteful  to  most  men,  but,  this 
notwithstanding,  all  men  are  subject  to  death. 

observance  :  Distinguish  from  observation. 
Though  the  act  of  observing  is  signified  by  both,  it 
is,  as  regards  observance,  in  the  sense  of  holding  sa- 
cred, whereas,  so  far  as    observation  is  concerned  if 


Errors  in  English  no 

of 
is  in  the  sense  of  making  examination  or  careful  note. 
Thus  there  is  an  ohseruance  of  the  law,  but  an  obser- 
vation of  the  works  of  nature. 

occupancy,  occupation  :  The  word  occupancy  dif- 
fers only  slightly  from  occupation  in  meaning.  The 
first  refers  rather  to  the  state  or  fact  of  possession, 
while  the  second  carries  with  it  an  idea  of  the  rights 
or  results  of  such  occupancy.  The  right  or  legal  fact 
of  occupancy  entitles  a  person  to  occupation  at  will. 
One  may  speak  of  the  occupancy  of  a  domain  and  the 
occupation.,  not  occupancy,  of  a  region  by  troops. 

occur,  take  place  :  These  terms  are  not  always 
synonymous.  Occurrences  are  due  to  chance  or  acci- 
dent but  things  take  place  by  arrangement.     Compare 

TRANSPIRE. 

of  :  That  the  force  of  this  word  is  not  fully  under- 
stood is  proved  by  the  fact  that  many  ministers  choose 
to  omit  it  from  the  title  of  Scriptural  books.  Dean 
Alford  in  referring  to  the  habit  of  announcing  "  The 
Book  Genesis"  instead  of  "The  Book  of  Genesis," 
says,  "  This  simply  betrays  the  ignorance  of  the  mean- 
ing of  the  preposition  of.  It  is  used  to  denote  author- 
ship, as  the  Book  oj  Daniel;  to  denote  subject  matter, 
as  the  first  Book  oj  Kings;  and  as  a  note  of  apposi- 
tion signifying  which  is  called,  as  the  Book  oj  Gene- 
sis. .  .  .  The  pedant,  who  ignores  oj  in  the  read- 
ing-desk must  however,  to  be  consistent,  omit  it  else- 
where :  I  left  the  city  London,  and   passed  through 

153 


of  A  Desk-Book  of 

only 

County  Kent,  leaving  realm  England  at  town  Dover. " 
Of  is  also  frequently  misused  for  jrom.  Nothing  but 
custom  can  justify  the  common  form  of  receipt,  "  Re- 
ceived of    .     .     ." 

of  any  :  Sometimes  used  incorrectly  for  of  all;  as, 
"This  is  the  finest  of  any  I  have  seen;  say,  rather, 
''finer  than  any  other, ^^  or  "finest  of  all.^^ 

off  of  :  The  preposition  off,  when  noting  origin  and 
used  in  the  sense  of  from  is  frequently  followed  most 
ungrammatically  by  of.  No  well  educated  person 
would  say  "I  got  these  eggs  off  of  Farmer  Jones," 
nor  would  they  "buy  a  steak  off  of  the  butcher  "  but 
"of"  or  "from"  him.  Off  should  not  be  used  of  a 
person,  where  froryi  would  suffice.  You  take  a  book 
from,  not  off,  your  friend;  who  may  take  it  off  a  shelf. 
You  do  not  even,  in  correct  speech,  take  a  contagious 
disease  off  him,  as  though  it  were  something  visible 
and  tangible,  and  were  bodily  removed  from  his  per- 
son. 

official  :  A  term  sometimes  used  incorrectly  for 
officer.  An  official  is  one  holding  public  office  or 
performing  duties  of  a  public  nature;  usually  he  is  a 
subordinate  officer;  an  officer  is  one  who  holds  an 
office  by  election  or  appointment,  esr,ecially  a  civil  office, 
as  under  a  government,  municipality,  or  the  like. 

of  the  name  of.     Compare  by  the  name  of. 

older,  oldest  :  These  terms  are,  according  to  best 

usage,  applied  only  to  persons  belonging  to  different 

154 


Errors  In  English  of 

only 
families  or  to  things,  as,  Lincoln  was  older  than  Hay, 
this  book  is  the  oldest  in  the  library.     Compare  elder, 

ELDEST. 

on  is  frequently  used  where  in  would  be  preferable. 
Fitz-Greene  Halleck  once  said  to  a  friend,  "  Why  do 
people  persist  in  saying  on  Broadway?  Might  they 
not  as  well  say  Our  Father,  who  art  on  Heaven?" 

once  in  a  way  (or  while)  :  A  colloquialism  for  "  now 
and  then,"  better  expressed  by  a  single  word,  as  oc- 
casionally. 

one  :  Used  sometimes  as  in  wTiting  narrative  in- 
stead of  "I,"  "he,"  or  "a."  Bain  ("Higher  Eng. 
Grammar")  says  :  ^^  One  should  be  followed  by  one 
and  not  by  he  (nor  for  that  matter  by  /  or  a);  as, 
'What  one  sees  or  feels,  one  can  not  be  sure  that  one 
sees  or  feels.'  "  To  begin  with  one  and  to  continue 
with  any  one  of  the  substitutes  suggested  would  not 
only  be  incorrect  but  would  confuse  the  reader. 

one  another.     Compare  each  other. 

one-horse  :  A  slang  term  for  "second  rate"  ;  im- 
plying "of  inferior  capacity,  quality  or  resources." 

only  :  This  word,  whose  correct  position  depends 

upon  the  intention  of  the  author,  is  often  misplaced. 

The  examples  of  the  uses  of  only  here  given  will  serve 

to  illustrate  correct  usage.     "  Only  his  father  spoke 

to  him"  ;  here  only  means  that  of  all  persons  who 

might  have  spoken,  but  one,  his  father,  spoke  to  him. 

"His  father  only  spoke  to  him"  implies  that  his  father 

155 


on  A  Desk-Book  of 

opinion 

'only  spoke^^  and  did  not  scold  him,  which,  perhaps, 
he  might  have  felt  his  duty  called  upon  him  to  do. 
"His  father  spoke  only  to  him"  means  that,of  all  the 
persons  present,his  father  chose  to  speak  to  him  alone, 
but  this  sentence  may  perhaps  be  more  lucidly  ex- 
pressed "  His  father  spoke  to  him  only. " 

on  the  level.     See  under  level. 

on  the  street.     Compare  in  the  street;  on. 

onto  :  A  word  meaning  "upon  the  top  of,"  avoided 
by  purists  as  colloquial  or  vulgar.  Condemned  by 
Phelps  as  a  vulgarism  but  now  gradually  growing  in 
popularity.  Inasmuch  as  its  form  is  analogous  to  into, 
unto,  upon,  all  of  which  are  sanctioned  by  best  usage, 
Phelps's  condemnation  is  perhaps  a  little  premature. 
The  word  has  been  objected  to  by  some  critics  as  re- 
dundant or  needless.  "Considered  as  a  new  word 
(it  is  in  reality  a  revival  of  an  old  form),  it  conforms 
to  the  two  main  neoteristic  canons  by  which  the  ad- 
missibility of  new  words  is  to  be  decided.  (See  Hall, 
Modern  English,  pp.  171,  173.)  It  obeys  the  analogy 
of  in  to  =  into.  It  may  also  be  held  to  supply  an  an- 
tecedent blank,  as  may  be  shown  by  examples.  It 
never  should  be  employed  where  on  is  sufficient;  but 
simple  on  after  verbs  of  motion  may  be  wholly  am- 
biguous, so  that  on  to,  meaning  '  to  or  toward  and  on,  * 
may  become  necessary  to  clear  up  the  ambiguity. 
'The  boy  fell  on  the  roof  may  mean  that  he  fell  whilv, 

on  the  roof,  or  that  he  fell,  as  from  the  chimney-top 

156 


Errors  in  English  on 

opinion 
or  some  overlooking  window,  to  the  roof  so  as  to  be 
on  it;  but  if  we  say  ^The  boy  fell  on  to  the  roof,' 
there  is  no  doubt  that  the  latter  is  the  meaning.  The 
canons  for  deciding  the  eligibility  of  new  words  ap- 
pear therefore  to  claim  for  on  to  the  right  to  struggle 
for  continued  existence  and  general  acceptance."  So 
says  Dr.  I.  K.  Funk  in  the  Standard  Dictionary. 
0,  Oh  :  Although  often  used  indiscriminately  it  ij 
generally  conceded  that  "O"  is  used  to  express  ex- 
clamation or  direct  address  while  "oh"  is  used  to 
express  the  emotion  of  joy,  pain,  sorrow,  or  surprise. 
See  the  examples. 

"  O  Mary,  go  and  call  the  cattle  home." 
"  O  God,  whose  thunder  shakes  the  skies.** 

"  Oh !  say,  can  you  see  by  the  dawn's  early  light  " — 
"  Ohl  why  should  the  spirit  of  mortal  be  proud  ?  " 

open  up  is  properly  used  to  signify  "explore;  dis- 
cover; as,  to  open  up  a  new  country,"  but  not  so  in 
the  sense  of  "introduce;  as,  to  open  up  a  subject." 
Here  the  word  up  is  superfluous;  but  in  this,  as  in  the 
majority  of  cases  where  open  up  is  used,  it  would  be 
better  to  substitute  a  more  specific  term.     See  up. 

opinion  is  sometimes  more  than  an  impression,  be- 
ing a  conclusion  or  judgment  held  with  confidence, 
though  falling  short  of  positive  knowledge.  The  word 
should  therefore  not  be  used  interchangeably  with 
idea,  which  may  be  a  mere  conception,  with  or  with' 

157 


or  A  Desk-Book  of 

overflown 

out  foundation  for  its  belief.  One  may  have  an 
idea  of  enjoyment,  but  hold  an  opinion  on  the  result 
of  a  campaign. 

or.     Compare  if;  nor. 

oral  should  be  differentiated  from  verbal.  The  for- 
mer applies  to  what  is  spoken  by  mouth,  whereas  the 
latter  indicates  that  which  has  been  reduced  to  words. 

orate  :  A  term  to  avoid  when  "  speak,  declaim,  ha- 
rangue," or  a  like  word  will  express  what  is  intended. 
It  may,  however,  be  fittingly  used  meaning  "to  play 
the  orator,  talk  windily  in  round  periods":  it  meets 
the  canon  of  "supplying  an  antecedent  blank,"  and 
is  a  legitimate  word,  especially  in  humorous  or  con- 
temptuous use. 

ordinance,  ordnance  :  These  words  have  no  rela- 
tion in  common.  An  ordinance  is  a  regulation  or- 
dained by  some  one  in  authority  as  a  "municipal 
ordinance.''  Ordnance  is  artillery,  especially  heavy 
guns,  cannon  of  all  kinds,  mortars,  howitzers,  etc. 

ornery  :  A  barbarous  dialectism  for  "ordinary" 
which  can  not  be  too  severely  condemned. 

other  :  This  word  is  often  improperly  omitted  from 
general  comparisons  ;  for  instance,  "  All  men  are  bet- 
ter than  he"  obviously  should  be  "All  other  men," 
etc.,  as  the  person  excepted  of  necessity  belongs  to 
the  class  embraced  by  "all  men." 

other,  otherwise  :  When  these  words  introduce  a 
clause  of  comparison  they  should  be  followed  by  the 

158 


Errors  In  English  or 

overflown 

conjunction  than,  instead  of  which  the  words  hut  and 
except  are  often  erroneously  introduced.  Than  is  in- 
deed the  conjunction  of  simple  comparison,  and 
should  be  used  after  adjectives  in  the  comparative 
degree.  In  better  usage  else  is  also  followed  by  thaUy 
unless  the  word  is  introduced,  as  frequently,  without 
appreciably  adding  effect  to  the  sentence;  as,  "She 
did  nothing  (else)  hut  weep,"  though  even  here  the  in- 
troduction of  the  unnecessary  word  would  make  than 
the  preferable  sequence.  "He  knew  no  other  course 
than  this" — not  hut  or  except.  "It  can  not  operate 
otherwise  than  for  good" — not  but.  "No  quicker  did 
he  climb  the  rope  thatt  (not  hut)  back  he  fell." 

ought.     Compare  aught. 

ought,  hadn't.     See  had  ought. 

out  of  sight  :  An  intense  \'ulgarism  for  "  superb. " 

over  and  above,  if  redundant,  is  an  undesirable 
expression.  Avoid  the  addition  of  words  to  a  sen- 
tence that  fail  to  add  to  the  sense.  "  Ch-er  and  ahove 
his  debts  illness  had  now  to  be  provided  for."  It 
were  better  to  say  "7w  addition  to  his  debts,"  etc. 

over,  across  :  Over  is  sometimes  misused  for 
"across."  Do  not  say  "go  over  the  bridge"  when 
you  mean  across  it. 

overflowed  :  The  banks  of  a  river  may  be  overflowed; 
they  should  never  be  spoken  of  as  overflown.  There 
is  no  verb  to  overfly,  but  there  is  one  to  overflow  the 
participles  of  which  are  overflowed,  overflowing.     The 

159 


over  A  Desk-Book  of 

paraphernalia 

termination — -jiown  used  commonly  by  the  illiterate 

is  the  past  participle  of  -fly.     Although  f.own  originally 

meant  "flooded"  the  word  in  the  sense  is  now  obsolete. 

over,  not  over  :  Opposed  by  some  wTiters  when  used 
as  equivalent  to  more  than,  not  more  than,  but  defen- 
sible as  having  a  tinge  of  metaphor  suggestive  of  over- 
flowing quantity  or  overtopping  height  and  having  the 
support  of  literary  usage. 

overshoes.     Compare  rubbers. 

over  with  :  Avoid  as  incorrect  all  such  sentences  as, 
"When  the  game  was  over  with,  we  enjoyed  a  cold 
collation."     Here  the  word  "with"  is  redundant. 

owing.     Compare  due. 

own  :  Some  critics  object  to  the  use  of  this  word 
in  the  sense  of  confess,  but  it  is  sanctioned  by  literary 
usage  and  dates  from  the  seventeenth  century.  To 
own  up,  or  to,  in  the  sense  of  "to  make  a  full  confes- 
sion" or  "to  admit  unreservedly  when  challenged"  is 
a  colloquialism. 

P 

pack  :  A  word  sometimes  misapplied  especially  in 
speaking  of  a  number  of  persons;  as,  "  the  whole  pack.'' 
It  is  correctly  used  when  applied  to  dogs  or  wolves, 
hence,  from  the  latter  application,  also  to  any  band  of 
men  leagued  together  for  evil  purposes;  as,  "a  pack  of 
thieves  ":  sometimes,  also,  correctly  styled  a  gang. 

pain.     Compare  pane. 

160 


Errors  in  English  over 

^         paraphernalia 

pair  :  Great  care  should  be  exercised  in  applying 
modifying  adjectives  to  this  word.  Thus  one  may  say 
"a  new  pair  of  trousers  ;"  "a  new  pair  of  scissors  ;" 
but  not  "a  new  pair  of  shoes."  There  is  a  distinc- 
tion in  the  use — "  a  new  pair  "  as  applied  to  gloves  or 
shoes  implies  exchange  of  one  pair  for  another;  here, 
"  a  difjerent  pair  "  would  be  preferred.  In  general, 
say,  rather,  "a  pair  of  new  shoes"  ;  "a  pair  of  new 
gloves."  This  word  remains  pair  in  the  plural  w^hen 
it  is  preceded  by  a  number  :  otherwise  it  takes  the 
s.     "Two  pair  of  gloves,"   but  "many  pairs  of  trou- 


sers." 


pane  :  Sometimes  confused  with  pain.  The  first 
designates  "a  piece,  division  or  compartment,  most 
commonly  a  plate  of  window  glass"  ;  the  second  de- 
notes "a  distressing  or  disagreeable  emotion."  The 
spellings  of  the  two  words  should  never  be  confused, 
but  occasionally  are. 

pants  :  A  \ailgarism  or  tailor's  cant  for  pantaloons^ 
meaning  trousers  which  should  be  the  word  used  by 
preference. 

paradox  :  Commonly  used  incorrectly  in  the  phrase 
"a  seeming  paradox," — a  thing  that  does  not  exist, 
a  paradox  being  a  statement  that  seems  to  be  at  va- 
riance with  common  sense.  A  statement  may,  how- 
ever, be  characterized  as  paradoxical. 

paraphernalia,    from   the    Greek   para,   bevond,  + 

pherOj  bring,  is  properly  applied  to  the  personal  ar- 

161 


pare  A  Desk-Book  of* 

peculiarly 

tides,  as  jewelry,  reserved  to  a  wife  over  and  abova 
her  dower  or  marriage  portion,  and  should  not  be 
used  in  the  sense  of  finery  or  regalia.  Yet  the  ap- 
pUcation  is  common  but  savors  of  grandiloquence. 
The  finery  and  regaha  are  not,  or  should  not  be, 
"over  and  above,"  but  should  be  as  of  right  or  of 
good  taste.    Compare  over  and  above. 

pare,  pair  :  Words  the  spellings  of  which  are  some- 
times confused.  Pare,  to  remove  the  outer  covering 
from  is  from  the  Latin  paro  and  means  "prepare"  ; 
pair,  designating  two  persons  or  things,  is  from  the 
Latin  par,  which  means  "equal."     See  pair. 

parenthesis  :  The  phrase  in  parenthesis  includes 
both  signs,  and  an  expression  placed  between  these 
signs  is  therefore  said  to  be  "  in  parenthesis. "  Paren- 
theses refers  only  to  two  or  more  sets  of  parenthetical 
expressions.  Due  care  should  be  exercised  in  using 
this  word. 

parson  :  Although  a  good  word  used  to  designate 
"  the  clergyman  of  a  parish, "  parson  is  often  used  con- 
temptuously, and  from  this  use  has  acquired  a  sense 
that  detracts  from  the  dignity  of  the  ofiice;  therefore, 
is  one  to  be  avoided.  Do  not  say  "  Our  parson  is  a 
popular  man"  ;  say,  rather,  "Our  minister    .     .     ." 

partake  should  never  be  used  as  a  synonym  for 
"eat"  or  "drink. "  One  may  partake  of  a  meal  with 
other  persons,  that  is,  share  it  with  them,  but  one  does 
not  partake  a  meal  by  one's  self. 

162 


Errors  In   English  pare 

peculiarly 
partially  should  not  be  used  for  "partly,"  as,having 

the  meaning  "with  unjust  favoritism"  it  may  be  mis- 
understood. 

party,  person  :  Except  in  legal  terminology,  person 
is  preferable;  party  means,  in  general,  an  entertain- 
ment. In  the  legal  sense,  party  is  a  person  (or  body 
of  persons  collectively)  who  (or  which)  takes  a  cer- 
tain specified  part  in  a  legal  transaction,  as  "  A.  B., 
the  party  of  the  first  part."  From  this  application  of 
the  term,  the  word  has  been  loosely  extended  to 
mean  person.  Do  not  say  "  A  certain  party/'  etc., 
but  "  A  certain  person";  party  in  such  a  connection 
is  a  vulgarism. 

pathos.    Compare  bathos. 

patrons  should  not  be  used  for  "  customers."  A 
patron  is  one  who  fosters  a  person  or  thing;  a  cus- 
tomer is  one  who  deals  regularly  at  one  establishment. 

peach  :  Used  in  the  sense  of  "  beauty,"  possibly 
from  the  delicate  and  downy  skin  of  the  fruit,  is  a 
playful  though  ^undesirable  expression  used  common- 
ly by  young  men  and  boys,  especially  in  referring  to 
women;  as,  "Isn't  she  a  peach!"  Lexicographers 
do  not  recognize  this  usage  of  the  word. 

peculiarly  impressive  :  A  phrase  heard  sometimes 
for  "  singularly  "  or  "  strikingly  impressive  " ;  but  the 
word  is  from  the  Latin  peculiaris,  "one's  own,"  and  it 
is  in  this  respect  that  the  individuality  enters  the  case. 
What  belongs  exclusively  to  a  person  is  peculiarly  his; 

163 


pecuniary  A  Desk-Book  of 

persuade 

and  the  sense  of  remarkable,  as  from  singularity,  in- 
tensity, or  exceptionality,  is  better  expressed  by  the 
word  of  this  class  best  adapted  to  the  case. 

pecuniary.    Compare  financial. 

peel  should  not  be  confused  with  peal.  The  first 
designates  "rind";  the  second,  "ring." 

pell-mell:  This  word  etymologically  implies  a 
crowd  and  confusion  and  is  not  applied  to  an  indi- 
vidual. Thus,  "He  rushed  out  pell-mell"  should  be 
"He  rushed  out  hastily  and  excitedly." 

penny:  In  the  plural  this  word  is  either  pennies  or 
pence.  In  the  one  case  it  means  a  number  of  indi- 
vidual coins ;  in  the  second  case  it  signifies  a  specific 
sum  of  money. 

people:  Where  individual  persons,  or  a  number  of 
such,  are  intended,  this  word  should  be  discarded  in 
favor  of  persons;  as,  "most  persons  are  of  this  opin- 
ion." People  means  persons  collectively ;  as  "People 
say." 

per:  This  is  a  Latin  preposition,  correctly  joined 
only  with  Latin  words;  as,  per  centum,  abbreviated 
per  cent.;  per  diem;  per  annum.  Per  head  and 
per  person,  per  year,  per  day  are  common  commercial 
locutions;  use  preferably  the  English  forms  a  head, 
a  person,  a  year,  a  day.  If  you  must  use  a  Latin 
phrase  be  sure  you  use  all  Latin. 

perfectly  killing:  An  inane  expression  used  com- 
monly by  women  for  "in  stylish  attire,"  and  also, 

164 


Errors  in  English        pecuniary 

persuade 
intensely  comic"  or  "absurd.'"    Compare  splen- 
did. 

perform  does  not  mean  play.  One  performs  music 
on  a  piano  or  plays  the  piano,  but  does  not  perjorm 
the  piano.  To  perform  on  the  piano  would  rather 
indicate  "to  strum"  upon  it  or  (if  you  like)  play  upon 
or  play  with  it  than  to  play  it, 

perform.     Compare  assume. 

permit.     Compare  allow. 

perpetually  ;  Distinguish  from  continually.  There 
is  a  difference  between  that  which  is  done  unceasingly 
and  that  which  merely  takes  place  constantly. 

person.     Compare  party. 

personalty  is  sometimes  considered  to  mean  articles 
of  personal  adornment.  It  does  not.  It  is  a  legal 
term,  now  in  contradistinction  to  realty^  and  includes 
therefore  all  movables,  as  money;  personal  property 
of  any  kind  whatever,  as  household  goods;  chattels 
real  and  personal;  things  movable  as  distinguished 
from  realty  or  landed  property  in  any  form. 

persons.     Compare  people. 

perspicacity,  perspicuity  *  Terms  often  confused. 
Perspicacity  is  "acuteness,  clear-sightedness  or  pene- 
tration" ;  perspicuity  is  "clearness  of  expression  or 
style,  lucidity"  ;  and  is  applied  to  speech  and  wTiting. 

persuade,  convince  :  That  which  persuades,  leads 
or  attracts  (Latin  suadeo,  advise),  that  which  con 
vinces,  binds  (Latin  vinco,  conquer).     A  person  when 

165 


peruse  A  Deslc-Book  ot 

pleasure 

convinced  that  he  is  wrong  is  persuaded,  by  justice  oi 

interest,  to  amend  his  ways. 

peruse  should  not  be  used  when  the  simple  read  is 
meant.  The  former  implies  to  read  with  care  and 
attention  and  is  almost  synonymous  with  scan,  which 
is  to  examine  with  critical  care  and  in  detail.  A  per- 
son is  more  likely  to  read  than  to  scan  or  peruse  the 
Bible. 

petition,  partition  :  Sometimes  pronounced  as  if 
they  were  homophones,  but  they  are  not.  Exercise 
care  in  their  use.  A  petition  is  a  request,  a  partition 
is  that  which  separates  anything  into  distinct  parts. 

phenomenon  is  the  singular  of  phenomena,  and  the 
distinction  should  be  observed  in  speech.  Avoid  as 
incorrect  such  locution  as  "A  remarkable  phenom- 
ena." 

piece,  a  :  A  provincial  vulgarism  used  in  such 
phrases  as  "We  went  along  the  road  a  piece''  ;  "he 
followed  me  a  piece,'*  etc. 

pike  '.  A  \Tilgarism  used  as  a  verb  for  "to  move 
away  rapidly,"  and  as  a  noun,  contemptuously,  foi 
"a  shiftless  class  of  pe^^^ons." 

pillar,  pillow  :  Discriminate  carefully  between  these 
words.  A  pillar  is  a  firm,  upright,  separate  support; 
a  pillow  is  a  head-rest.  Note  the  difference  in  the 
spellings. 

pile-in  :  Slang  for  "get  to  work.'* 

pipe-off  t  A  \nilgarism  for  to  "  take  in  at  a  glance. '' 

IfiG 


Errors  in  English  peruse 

pleasure 

pity,  S5nnpathy  :  Not  synonymous  terms.  Pity 
awakens  a  feeling  of  grief  or  sorrow  in  one  for  the 
distress  of  another;  sympathy  is  a  feeHng  kindred 
with  that  of  another  for  his  state  or  condition.  Syyrt- 
patJiy  impHes  a  degree  of  equahty  which  pity  does  not. 
We  may  pity  one  whom  we  disdain  but  we  can  not 
synipatliize  with  him. 

place  :  Used  objectively  without  a  preposition,  or 
even  adverbially,  a  pro\'incialism  common  in  parts 
of  the  United  States;  as,  "She  is  always  wanting  to 
go  places''  ;  ''Can't  I  go  any  place  (correctly  any- 
where)? "  "I  must  go  some  place  {somewhere)  "  ;  "I 
can't  find  it  any  place. '^    Such  forms  are  solecisms. 

place,  plaice  :  Homophones,  so  care  should  be  ex- 
ercised in  their  use  and  spelling.  A  place  is  a  particu- 
lar point  or  portion  of  space;  a  plaice  is  a  fish. 

plank:  Used  usually  with  "down"  this  term  is 
c  Dmmonly  employed  by  persons  careless  of  their  dic- 
tion for  "pay  out"  or  "lay  down"  :  said  especially  of 
money,  and  a  term  to  be  avoided. 

plead,  pleaded  or  pled,  pleading :  The  spelling  of 
pled  for  the  past  is  not  warranted,  and  is  a  colloquial- 
ism.    Careful  speakers  use  pleaded. 

pleasure  is  distinguished  from  happiness,  although 
in  common  conversation  the  terms  are  frequently  used 
as  if  they  were  synonymous.  "By  happiness,''  says 
Hamilton,  "is  meant  the  complement  of  all  the  pleas- 
ures  of   which    we    are   susceptible."     Crabb   says, 

167 


plentiful  A  Desk- Book  ot 

possessive 

""  Happiness  comprehends  that  aggregate  of  pleasur 
able  sensations  which  we  derive  from  external  ob- 
jects" :  it  is  "a  condition  in  which  pleasure  predom- 
inates over  pain  or  evil;  a  continued  experience  of 
pleasures  and  joys."  "Pleasure  is  the  accompani- 
ment of  the  moderate  and  suitable  activity  of  some 
organ  or  faculty  of  the  mind." 

plentiful.     Compare  bouxtiful. 

plenty  :  The  colloquialism  by  which  plenty,  which 
is  a  noun,  is  treated  as  an  adjective  or  adverb 
is  altogether  inadmissible.  In  such  cases  plcntijul 
and  plentijully  should  be  used.  "We  have  plenty 
oj  money."  "Cash  is  plentiful.^'  "We  are  plen- 
tifully supplied" — not  "We  have  plenty  enough 
cash." 

plunk :  A  vulgarism  for  a  silver  dollar. 

polite,  civil,  polished  :  Civil,  from  the  Latin  civilisy 
from  civis,  a  citizen,  denotes  that  which  is  becoming 
to  a  citizen.  Polite  is  the  Latin  politus,  participle  of 
polio,  polish.  Civility  is  therefore  negative,  the  mere 
absence  of  rudeness,  whereas  politeness  is  the  positive 
evidence  of  good  breeding.  A  polite  man  is  naturally 
so,  but  a  polished  man  is  one  who  has,  by  art,  ac- 
quired the  smoothness  which  comes  of  having  had 
the  rough  edges  rubbed  off.  Polite  denotes  a  quality; 
polished  denotes  a  state. 

politics  is  a  singular  word  of  plural  form.  "His 
hobby  is  politics^' — not  ''Politics  are  his  hobby." 

168 


Errors  in   English  plentiful 

possessive 

poKty  and  policy  both  come  from  the  Latin  politica, 
(Gr.  politeiay  polity, /^o//^,  city);  but  they  must  not  be 
confounded.  "  Polity  is  the  permanent  system  of  gov 
ernment  of  a  state,  a  church,  or  a  society;  policy  i: 
the  method  of  management  with  reference  to  the  at- 
tainment of  certain  ends.  The  national  polity  of  the 
United  States  is  republican;  each  administration  has 
a  policy  of  its  own." 

pore:   Compare  POUR. 

possessive  case,  the  :  A  very  unnecessary  difficulty 
appears  to  be  felt,  even  by  educated  men,  in  the  use 
of  the  apostrophe  in  the  possessive  case.  It  is  placed 
immediately  after  the  noun  under  consideration.  If, 
for  instance,  you  are  talking  of  a  lady  and  refer  to 
her  glove,  you  say  "the  lady^s  glove" — then  the  apos- 
trophe, should  immediately  follow  the  noun  in  ques- 
tion; viz.,  lady  J  in  the  singular.  If,  however,  there  are 
two  ladies  or  more,  you  say  "the  ladies^  gloves,"  and 
the  apostrophe  should  follow  ladies;  that  is,  lady,  in 
the  plural.  In  like  manner,  you  wTite  "the  hoy''s 
father,"  or  "the  hoys^  father,"  when  referring  to  one 
or  to  two  or  more  boys,  respectively.  "The  man's 
hat,"  "the  men's  hats,"  with  the  apostrophe  follow- 
ing the  noun  man  or  men,  will  note  the  possessive  in 
the  singular  and  plural  for  the  noun  Juan. 

The  nearest  approach  to  a  difficulty  is  where  a 
plural  ends  with  an  "  s  "  or  a  sibilant  sound;  but  here 
the  rule  is  still  the  same — place  the  apostrophe  after 

169 


possessive  A   Desk-Book   of 

power 

the  noun  referred  to,  that  is,  the  plural,  though  for 
the  sake  of  smoothness  and  euphony,  omit  the  suc- 
ceeding (or  rather  non-succeeding)  "s."  Thus,  "  the 
boss's  desk"  in  the  singular,  "the  bosses^  desks,"  in 
the  plural.  When  the  singular  ends  in  "s,"  the  pos- 
sessive "s"  is  usually  retained,  excepting  where  the 
noun  has  three  or  more  syllables  and  the  word  follow- 
ing commences  wdth  this  letter.  Thus,  Charles's 
uncle;  Burns's  poems;  Burns's  stanza;  Damocles' 
sword.  The  possessive  *'s"  is  also  generally  omitted 
before  "sake" — as,  "For  conscience^  sake'^  (con- 
science having  the  "s"  sound);  "for  Jesus'  sake." 

In  speaking  of  a  firm,  where  the  partners  consti- 
tute but  one  object  of  contemplation,  the  apostrophe 
is  used  but  once — after  the  complete  object  of  con- 
templation, that  is,  after  the  title  or  firm  name;  as, 
"Jones  and  Robinson's  store."  If  Jones  and  Rob- 
inson, instead  of  being  in  partnership  had  independ- 
ent businesses  you  would  speak  of  "  Jones's  and  Rob- 
mson's  stores" — this  being  no  exception  to,  but  merely 
an  exemplification  of,  the  rule  that  the  apostrophe 
immediately  follows  the  noun  or  name  (or  firm  name) 
under  consideration. 

Occasionally,  the  possessive  appears  in  double  form, 
the  substantive  being  preceded  by  of  and  followed  by 
the  apostrophe  with  5.  This  occurs,  however,  only  in 
idiomatic phrases,as, "  He  was  a  friend  of  my  father's," 
which  is  equivalent  to  "He  was  one  of  my  father's 

170 


Errors  in  English        possessive 

power 

friends"  or  "He  was  a  friend  of  (the  number  of)  my 
father's  (friends),"  when  it  may  be  supposed  that  the 
person  spoken  of  possesses  more  than  one  object  of 
the  kind  referred  to,  this  double  form  of  possessive 
is  properly  used.  *'  It  was  a  fault  of  my  friend  to  be 
loquacious"  would  signify  the  one  particular  weakness 
of  my  friend  :  "It  was  a  fault  of  my  friend's  to  be 
loquacious,"  that  is,  "of  my  friend's  faults,"  would 
signify  that  this  was  one  of  various  faults. 

The  apostrophe  is  not  used  with  the  possessive  per- 
sonal pronouns.  Write  "yours  {not  your's)  truly." 
Compare  's. 

post  :  A  colloquialism,  generally  undesirable,  for 
ihjorm.  It  is  derived  from  the  bookkeeping  signifi- 
cation of  the  term,  where  it  means  that  the  ledger  is 
supplied,  by  transfer,  with  the  information  contained 
in  the  books  of  original  entry. 

pour,  pore  :  Exercise  care  in  using  these  homo- 
phones. The  first  is  of  Celtic  origin  and  means  "to 
cause  to  flow,  as  a  liquid,  in  a  continuous  stream"  ; 
whereas  pore  is  from  the  ]\ fiddle  English  poren,  and 
means  "  to  gaze  or  ponder  with  close  and  continued 
application,  as  in  reading  or  studying. " 

power  :  In  the  sense  of  "  a  great  number  or  quan- 
tity," this  word  is  an  undesirable  colloquialism  that 
has  gained  ground  especially  in  rural  districts.  One 
may  say  of  a  man  "He  was  a  power  among  the 
people,"  but  not  "A  power  of  people  heard  him." 

171 


practical  A  Desk-Book  of 

preposition 

practical  :  Do  not  confound  with  practicable,  '.the 
former  means  "that  can  be  put  into  practise  or  ren- 
dered appHcable  for  use;  as,  practical  knowledge"; 
whereas  the  latter  is  perhaps  best  expressed  by  the 
synonym  "feasible."  Practical  has  a  general  appH- 
cation,  being  governed  by  actual  use  and  experience; 
as,  practical  statesmanship  or  wisdom  :  practicable, 
on  the  contrary,  is  particular,  and  signifies  the  suita- 
bility of  the  particular  thing  named  to  the  desired  end. 
Thus  one  may  know  a  practical  man  but  not  a  prac- 
iicable  one. 

pray,  prey  :  Exercise  care  in  using  these  homo- 
phones. Etymologically  they  are  distinct.  Fray  is 
from  Old  French  praier,  to  ask;  while  prey  is  from 
Old  French  preier,  booty,  probably  from  the  Latin 
pmhendo,  to  seize.      Note  the  difference  in  spell- 


ing. 


precedent,  president :  Although  almost  homophones 
these  terms  have  widely  different  meanings.  A  prece- 
dent is  something  that  has  occurred  before  in  time  and 
is  considered  as  an  established  rule  or  an  authorized 
example;  a  president  is  the  head  of  a  nation,  society, 
or  the  like. 

predicate,  predict  :  Though  these  words  are  both 
derived  from  the  same  Latin  source,  the  one  must  not 
be  used  for  the  other.  To  predict  is  to  foretell, 
whereas  to  predicate  is  to  proclaim  as  inherent.  In 
United  States  usage  predicate,  with  on  or  tipoUy  is 

172 


Errors  in  English  practical 

preposition 

sometimes  treated  as  synonymous  with  establish  ;  as, 

"On  what  do  you  predicate  the  assertion?  " 

prefer  :  The  act  or  thing  preferred  should  never  be 
followed  by  than.  Prefer  is  properly  followed  by  the 
preposition  to,  or  occasionally  by  above  or  before. 
Thus  do  not  say  "I  prefer  to  talk  than  to  dance,"  but 
"I  prefer  talking  to  dancing." 

preferable  :  If  the  preference  is  stated  in  terms,  as 
"This  is  preferable  to  that,"  the  word  is  follov/ed  by 
the  preposition  to — never  by  than.  The  perference 
may,  however,  be  implied;  as,  "This  is  preferable.''^ 

prejudice  :  Sometimes  erroneously  used  for  "  pre- 
possess" or  "predispose."  A  prepossession  is  always 
favorable,  a  prejudice  always  unfavorable,  unless  the 
contrary  is  expressly  stated.  Predispose  means  "to 
dispose  or  incline  beforehand. "  Therefore,  we  should 
not  say  that  a  person  is  prejudiced  in  any  one's  favor 
but  that  he  is  prepossessed  or  predisposed. 

preposition  :  "  The  part  of  speech  or  particle  that 
denotes  the  relation  of  an  object  to  an  action  or  thing; 
so  called  because  it  is  usually  placed  before  its  ob- 
ject." The  correct  use  of  these  little  words  is  often 
puzzling  to  persons  of  education.  For  the  purpose 
of  their  guidance  the  following  partial  list  is  given. 
A  comprehensive  work  on  the  subject  of  their  correct 
use  is  "English  Synonyms,  Antonyms  and  Preposi- 
tions," by  Dr.  James  C.  Fernald. 


27? 


preposition 
pretty- 
accord  with  (neuter) 
accord  to  (active) 
accused    of  crime 
acquit  persons  of 
adapted  to  or  between 
adapted    to    a   thing   for    a 

purpose 
affinity  to  ox  between 
agreeable  to 
agree  with  persons,  to  things, 

among  ourselves 
amuse  with,  at,  in 
angry  with   (a  person)  at  (a 

thing) 
anxious  y27r,  about,  sometimes 

on 
attend  to  (listen) 
attend  upon  (wait) 
averse  from,  vv'hen  describing 

an  act  or  state, 
averse    to,    when    describing 

feeling 
bestow  tip  on 
boast  of 
call  on 
change /i7r 
compliance  with 
confer  on   (give),   with  (con- 
verse) 
confide  in,  when  intransitive 
confide  it  to,  when  transitive 
conform  to 
conformable  to 
consonant  to,  sometimes  with 
convenient  to  or  for 
conversant  with  persons  ;  in 

or  o/" affairs;  about  subjects 
correspond   with   (by  letter), 

to  (similar  things) 
dependent  on,  tipon 
derogate  yrcw 


A   Desk-Book  of 


derogatory  to  a  person  oi 
thing 

die  ^or  by 

differ  from  or  with 

difference  with  a  person 

difference  between  things 

difficulty  in 

diminution  of 

disappointed  of  a  purpose; 
and  in  a  matter  if  it  fails  to 
meet  our  expectations. 

disapprove  of 

discouragement  to 

dissent  from 

distinguished  y^^jy^f?/;?,  some- 
times by 

eager  iti 

entertain  by  (a  person),  with 
(a  thing) 

exception  is  taken  to  state- 
ments ;    sometimes  against 

ex)iert  at  or  in 

fall  under 

free  frojn 

frightened  at 

glad  of  something  gained, 
and  of  ox  at  what  befalls? 
another 

grieve  at,  for 

independent  of 

insist  upon 

made  of,  for,  from,  with 

marry  to 

martyr  for  a  cause,  to  a  dis 
ease. 

need  of 

notice  of 

observance  of 

prejudiced  against 

prejudicial  to 

profit  by 


174 


provide  yj^r 
reconcile  to 
recreant  to,  from 
reduce  to  a  state 

jection 
regard  to  ox  for 
replete  with. 
resemblance  to 
resolve  on 
respect  for 
smile  at,  upon 


Errors  in  English      preposition 

pretty 

^v^exve  from 

taste  of  what  is  actually  en- 
joyed ;  for  what   we  have 
under  s,^2^y  the  capacity  of  enjoying, 

think  ^or  on 
thirst  y^r,  after 
true  ^(predicable) 
true  to  (faithful) 
wait  on   (serve),  at  (a  place), 

for  (await) 
worthy  of 


present  is  to  be  distinguished  from  introduce.  In- 
troduction takes  place  among  equals,  but  a  presen- 
tation takes  place  by  act  of  grace.  Then  the  fa- 
vored person  is  brought  into  the  presence  of  some 
superior  or  other  persons,  be  it  lady  or  celebrity,  who 
is  graciously  pleased  to  grant  the  privilege,  which 
however  does  not  permit  the  subsequent  familiarity 
of  an  introduction.  A  man  may  be  presented  at  court 
or  to  a  reigning  beauty,  but  he  is  merely  introduced 
to  the  man  who  may  afterwards  become  a  college 
chum. 

pretend  is  so  commonly  used  in  a  bad  sense  that 
it  becomes  improper  to  use  it  (even  in  the  sense  of 
claim)  for  projess;  for  a  profession  is  made  only  of 
what  one  is  happy  or  proud  to  profess.  Therefore 
say,  "I  projess  (not  I  pretend  to)  skill  in  surgery.'* 

pretty  as  an  adverb  may  properly  be  used  to  signify 
moderately,  tolerably,  fairly,  somewhat  (extensively), 
but  the  expression  lacks  elegance  and  definitiveness, 
as  is  shown  by  the  following  sentence:  "  He  is  a  pretty 

175 


prevail  A    DcblC-Book    of 

propose 

sick  man,  but  is  pretty  sure  to  recover,  being  at  aU 

times  pretty  fortunate." 

prevail:  In  the  sense  of  ''triumph,"  this  word 
is  usually  followed  by  the  prepositions  over  or 
against;  as,  "We  have  prevailed  over  our  enemies"  ; 
"None  can  prevail  against  us."  In  the  sense  of  "to 
have  effectual  influence,"  follow  it  with  o;z,  upon  or 
with;  as,  "He  prevailed  on  me  to  go."  In  the  sense 
'*to  have  general  vogue,  currency  or  acceptance,"  it 
should  be  followed  by  through  or  throughout ;  as, 
"Mohammedanism  prevails  throughout  Northern 
Africa." 

preventive  is  preferable  to  preventative,  which  is 
a  corruption  of  the  former,  has  been  described  kxs  a 
"barbarism,"  and  is  said  to  stamp  any  one  using  it 
as  lacking  in  common  education. 

previous  :  In  higher  literature,  the  adverbial  use  of 
previous  with  to,  in  the  sense  of  "prior  to"  is  not 
favored.  The  adverb  previously  or  the  expression 
prior  to  is  preferred. 

prey.     Compare  pray. 

principle,  principal :  Exercise  care  in  the  use  of 
these  homophones.  Principle  is  a  source  or  cause 
from  which  a  thing  proceeds:  principal,  first  or  high- 
est in  rank.     Note  the  difference  in  spelling. 

profess.     Compare  pretend. 

promise  should  never  be  used  for  "assure."  A 
promise  always  implies  futurity.     Do  not  say  "He 

17f) 


Errors  in   English  prevail 

propose 

was  alarmed,  I  promise  you  ;"  say,  rather,  *'I  assure 

you." 

pronouns  in  the  objective  :  Often  the  coupling  of 
one  pronoun  with  another  leads  a  careless  speaker 
into  error,  where  had  one  pronoun  only  been  used, 
no  doubt  or  difllculty  would  have  been  experienced. 
"If  he  calls  for  {yon  and)  /,  we  will  go."  If  the 
words  in  parenthesis  be  omitted  no  one  would  think 
of  saving  "for  /,"  but  would  naturally  use  the  correct 
pronoun  vie.  This  method  of  elision  will  generally 
elucidate  the  correct  usage.  "  To  talk  like  that  before 
(you  and)  /  was  atrocious."  Say  me,  as  you  cer- 
tainly would  if  you  omitted  the  words  in  parenthesis. 

prophecy,  prophesy :  Discriminate  carefully  be- 
tween these  words.  A  prophecy  is  a  prediction,  the 
foretelling  of  an  event;  to  prophesy  is  to  predict,  or 
foretell  an  event.     Note  the  difference  in  spelling. 

proposal,  as  distinguished  from  proposition,  refers 
to  the  difference  in  treatment  of  the  matter  at  issue. 
The  one  invites  a  plain  "yes"  or  "no,"  whereas  the 
other  suggests  consideration  or  debate.  A  proposal 
of  marriage  usually  anticipates  an  immediate  reply, 
whereas  a  proposition  for  partnership  involves  reflec- 
tion and  discussion  of  terms. 

propose,  purpose  :  Words  often  used  incorrectly. 
To  propose  is  to  offer;  to  purpose  is  to  intend.  One 
proposes  to  a  young  lady  if  one's  purpose  is  to  marry 
her.     Compare  contemplate. 

.177 


proven  A  Desk-Book  of 

quite 

proven  :  An  irregular  form  of  the  past  participle 
of  prove  used  correctly  only  in  courts  of  law.  The 
word  should  be  restricted  to  the  Scotch  verdict  of 
"not  proven, ^^  which  signifies  of  a  charge  that  it  has 
neither  been  proved  nor  disproved.  The  modern 
pernicious  tendency  among  reporters  is  to  use  proven 
instead  of  proved. 

providing,  provided :  The  first  of  these  words, 
which  is  not  a  conjunction,  is  sometimes  improperly 
used  for  provided,  which  is.  Say,  "  You  may  go,  pro- 
vided {not  providing)  the  weather  be  fine." 

provoke.     Compare  aggravate. 

pull  used  to  designate  "influence"  is  a  vulgarism 
of  the  street  and  the  political  arena  that  should  be 
discountenanced.     "Influence"  is  a  better  word. 

pupil.     Compare  scholar. 

push,  the  whole  :  A  vulgar  phrase  used  to  desig- 
nate all  the  persons  that  form  a  party:  an  Anglicism. 
In  English  slang  "push"  is  used  for  "crowd"  prob- 
ably from  the  proverbial  restlessness  and  crushing  in 
which  English  crowds  usually  indulge. 

put :  For  run  or  ran;  as,  "  You  ought  to  have  seen 
him  piiV^  ;  "Then  he  ptit  (sometimes,  put  out)  for 
home"  :  an  archaic  usage  now  appearing  as  a  col- 
loquial Americanism.  Stay  put  in  the  sense  of 
*' remain  where  (or  as)  placed"  is  also  an  Ameri- 
canism, never  used  (unless  playfully)  by  correct 
speakers. 

in 


Errors  in   English  proven 

quite 

Q 

quantity  is  properly  applied  to  that  which  is  meas- 
urable, as  is  "number"  to  that  which  may  be  counted. 
"A  quantity  of  people"  ;  *'a  quantity  of  birds,"  are 
both  incorrect;  substitute  the  word  number  in  both 
cases. 

quarter  of :  As  applied  to  time  this  is  incorrect. 
Such  an  ambiguity  can  be  avoided  by  substituting 
to  for  of.  For  example,  a  quarter  of  seven  is  one  and 
three-fourths  not  a  quarter  to  the  hour  of  seven;  yet 
the  phrase  "  quarter  of  "  is  often  misapplied  to  time 
by  persons  of  average  education. 

quit  is  sometimes  used  incorrectly  for  cease.  You 
may  quit  business,  but  do  not  ask  your  companion 
to  ''quit  fooling." 

quite  :  In  general  quite  means  "to  the  fullest  ex- 
tent, totally,  perfectly"  ;  colloquially,  it  means  "very, 
considerably."  It  is  from  the  French  quitte,  meaning 
"discharged,"  being  the  equivalent  of  the  Enghsh 
"quits,"  a  word  used  in  games  to  designate  when  the 
players  are  even  with  one  another.  Therefore  such  a 
phrase  as  "quite  a  number"  is  unjustifiable.  "Num- 
ber"'is  indefinite  in  its  signi^cance  just  as  are  also 
"few,"  "little,"  and  "some."  As  Richard  Grant 
White  says,  "A  cup  or  a  theater  may  be  quite  full; 
and  there  may  be  quite  a  pint  in  a  cup  or  quite  a 
thousand  people  in  the  theater;  and  neither  may  be 

179 


quite  A  Desk-Book  of 

recipe 

quite  full."  Yet  Thomas  Hughes,  author  of  "Tom 
Brown's  Schooldays,"  wrote  in  a  letter  concerning  an 
intercollegiate  boat-race  ^^  quite  a  number  of  young 
Americans."  The  local  colloquialism  "quite  some" 
is  wholly  indefensible. 

quite  so  :  An  undesirable  locution,  common  in 
England  and  to  some  extent  in  America,  and  used 
to  signify  assent,  which  should  be  avoided.  "He 
jabbers  like  an  idiot."     ^^ Quite  so,  quite  so." 

quite  the  lady  :  A  vulgarism  for  "  very  ladylike. " 

R 

rabbity  rarebit :  The  correct  form  of  this  term  is 
rabbit.  A  Welsh  rabbit  is  toasted  or  melted  cheese 
well-seasoned  and  served  on  toast.  This  term,  prob- 
ably of  slang  origin,  is  analogous  to  Munster  plums 
designating  Irish  potatoes,  and  Glasgow  magistrate, 
designating  a  salt  herring. 

rag.     Compare  chew  the  rag. 

raise  :  As  a  verb  this  is  often  misapplied  to  the 
bringing  up  of  human  beings.  One  rears  cattle,  raises 
chickens,  but  brings  up  children.  Rear,  meaning  "  to 
nurture  and  train,"  may  also  be  used  of  children. 

You  may  raise  a  fund  for  rent  because  the  rent 

has  been  raised;  but  in  speaking  of  this  it  were  better 

to  say   "has  been  increased.''^    The  colloquial  use 

of  raise  for  an   increase   in   salary   should  also  be 

avoided. 

180 


Errors  In  English  quite 

recipe 

raise,  raze  :  Discrimina*^  carefully  between  these 
homophones.  To  raise  is  to  cause  to  rise,  elevate; 
but  to  raze  is  to  level  with  the  ground,  as  a  building. 

rare  :  In  the  United  States  rare  applied  to  meat  is 
used  to  designate  meat  that  is  not  well  done;  in  Eng- 
land, the  term  is  used  to  designate  meat  that  is  not 
fresh. 

rarely  or  ever  :  Often  incorrectly  used  for  "rarely 
ij  ever"  :  the  word  seldom  is  preferable. 

rather  :  Superfluous  with  adjectives  ending  in  -ishy 
when  this  implies  rather;  as,  "rather  warmish," 
"rather  coldish."  Charles  Lamb  jestingly  made  the 
error  apparent  in  closing  a  letter  with  "yours  rather- 
ish  unwell. "  But  with  adjectives  where  -ish  expresses 
quality  only,  not  degree,  rather  is  admissible,  and  may 
make  a  neat  distinction;  as,  "rather  foolish." 

rattle  :  In  the  sense  of  "to  throw  suddenly  into 
confusion"  this  word  is  a  colloquialism  which  has 
much  currency.  Disconcert  is  a  preferable  term 
though  not  nearly  so  expressive. 

read.     Compare  peruse. 

real  used  for  very  is  an  undesirable  colloquialism. 
Avoid  such  locutions  as  "real  glad"  ;  "real  smart"  ; 
"^ea/  pleased. "     Very  is  the  correct  word  to  use. 

realized  should  not  be  used  for  "obtained." 

receipt.     Compare  recipe. 

recipe  refers  to  the  thing — the  combined  ingredients 
— directed  to  be  taken,  and  receipt  refers  to  what  is 

181 


reciprocal  A   Desk-Book   of 

remit 

taken,  i.  e.,  the  identical  thing  prescribed.     The  two 

words  have  thus  come  to  acquire  the  same  meaning, 

though,  strictly,  the  doctor  gives  the  recipe  (thing  to 

be  taken)  or  formula,  and  the  patient  acknowledges 

the  receipt  (of  the  thing  given). 

reciprocal.     Compare  mutual. 

recollect  is  not  the  same  as  remember.  You  only 
recollect  after  making  the  effort  to  do  so;  you  remember 
because  you  have  never  forgotten,  therefore  without 
effort.  You  remember  the  rent  is  due,  but  recollect  the 
date  of  your  friend's  birth. 

recommend  :  As  a  noun  used  instead  of  recomrnen- 
dation,  this  word  is  a  colloquialism  the  use  of  which 
should  be  discouraged. 

recourse,  resource  :  Two  words  often  confounded. 
Recourse  means  a  resort  to,  as  for  help  or  protection; 
the  adoption  of  a  means  to  an  end.  A  resource  is  that 
which  one  resorts  to,  as  in  case  of  need;  the  source 
of  aid  or  support;  an  expedient.  In  the  plural,  re- 
sources are  one's  means,  funds,  or  property  of  any 
kind,  as  distinguished  from  one's  liabilities. 

reduce,  lessen  :  To  reduce  is  to  bring  to  a  specified 
form  or  inferior  condition;  to  lessen  is  to  diminish. 
Do  not  say  '*  to  reduce  cases  in  which  the  death  penalty 
may  be  inflicted"  ;  say,  rather,  "to  lessen  the  number 
of  cases,  etc." 

regardless  is  an  adjective  meaning  "exercising  no 
regard;  heedless,"   and  should  never  be  used  as  m 

182 


Errors  in  English         reciprocal 

remit 
the  common  vulgarism  "got  up  regardless'*  which  is 
incomplete,  and  which  to  be  correct  should  be  ren- 
dered "got  up  regardless  of  expense. '* 

relation,  relative,  kinsman :  The  distinction  be- 
tween these  words  is  not  commonly  known.  A  rela- 
tion or  relative  is  one  to  whom  another  may  be  related 
bv  ties  of  blood  or  by  law.  Thus,  a  brother  is  a  re- 
lation or  relative  by  ties  of  blood;  and  a  brother-in-law 
ib  a  relation  or  relative  by  law.  A  kin^fnan,  as  the 
formation  of  the  word  shows,  is  a  "man's  kin"  ;  that 
is,  one  of  his  o\mi  blood,  as  a  brother  or  cousin. 

relic,  relict ;  These  words,  though  once  interchange- 
able are  no  longer  so;  relict  in  the  sense  of  relic  now 
being  obsolete.  A  relic  is  a  fragment  that  remains 
after  the  loss  or  decay  of  the  rest.  A  relict  is  either 
a  widow  or  a  widower.  In  this  sense  the  term,  com- 
mon in  law,  is  archaic  or  humorous  in  general  use. 

relieve.     Compare  allevla.te. 

remainder.     Compare  balance. 

remains  should  not  be  used  for  "  corpse  "  or  "  body. " 

remit :  In  commercial  usage  this  word  implies  the 
discharge  of  an  account  by  payment  sent;  and  it 
should  not  generally  be  used  as  a  synonym  for  send. 
To  remit  is  "to  send  or  place  back."  Thus,  to  for- 
give, release,  withdraw  a  demand  for — any  of  which 
actions  may  replace  the  recipient  of  the  favor  in  his 
former  position — is  properly  spoken  of  as  remit.  It 
's  in  this  sense  only  that  remit  is  permissible  for  dis' 

183 


rendering  A   Desk-Book   of 

restive 

charge  of  an  obligation,  though  by  payment,  as  this 
procedure  places  the  parties  in  the  same  state  as  that 
in  which  they  were  before  the  obligation  was  incurred. 

rendering.     Compare  rendition. 

rendition  :  Although  this  word  has  the  meaning  of 
*' artistic  interpretation  or  reproduction,  as  of  the 
spirit  of  a  composer,"  the  word  rendering  is  prefer- 
ably employed  in  referring  to  a  delineation  or  inter- 
pretation in  art  and  the  drama.  Describe  an  artisti-: 
version  or  a  literary  translation  as  a  rendering,  and  an 
amount  rendered  or  produced,  as  a  yield  of  cocoons, 
as  a  rendition.  The  former  specially  signifies  the  act, 
the  latter  the  thing  produced  by  the  act,  though  there 
is  of  course  a  blending  point  of  the  two  which  is  none 
other  than  the  whole. 

replace  :  The  use  of  this  word  with  the  sense  of  "  suc- 
ceed "  has  been  subjected  to  criticism,  usage  decrees 
that  to  replace  is  to  "  take  or  fill  the  place  of  ;  super- 
sede in  any  manner."  To  succeed  is  to  "come  next 
in  order  especially  in  a  manner  prescribed  by  law." 

reply.     Compare  answer. 

reputation.     Compare  character. 

requirement,  requisite,  requisition :  Whereas  a 
requisite  is  that  which  can  not  be  dispensed  with,  a 
requirement  is  rather  that  which  is  insisted  on,  if  de- 
sired conditions  are  to  be  fulfilled.  Fresh  air  is  a 
requisite  of  life;  the  apology  you  ask  is  a  hard  re- 
quirement.    My  requirements  are  few;  my  requisites 

184 


Errors   in    English  rendering 

restive 

but  clothing,  food  and  air.  \Vlien  a  requirement  par- 
takes of  the  nature  of  a  legal  or  authoritative  or  even 
popular  demand,  it  then  becomes  a  requisition;  as,  a 
requisition  for  accounts;  to  be  in  requisition, 

resemble.     Compare  favor. 

reside,  residence  :  Somewhat  stately  words,  not  to 
be  indiscriminately  used  for  live^  house  or  honie.  In 
the  legal  sense,  as  affecting,  for  instance,  the  right  to 
vote,  a  man's  residence  may  be  in  a  cheap  lodging- 
house;  but  commonly  the  word  v/ould  be  understood 
to  designate  a  building  of  some  pretensions.  "  Where 
does  he  live  ?  "  is  ordinarily  better  than  ''Where  does 
he  reside?  "  and  to  call  a  plain  little  cottage  "my 
residence'^  is  a  bit  of  petty  affectation. 

resource.     Compare  recourse. 

respectfully  is  often  confounded  by  the  thoughtless 
with  respectively.  While  the  former  means  "in  a  re- 
spectful manner"  the  latter  signifies  "singly,  in  the 
order  designated,  or  as  singly  considered."  Respec- 
tively must  also  be  distinguished  from  severally,  the 
meaning  of  which  is  "  separately,  or  each  for  himself 
or  itself."  For  example,  "The  three  men  severally 
undertook  to  do  the  share  of  work  allotted  to  them 
respectively,  that  is,  A,  B,  C,  each  promised  for  him- 
self to  do  work  in  the  following  proportions — A,  one- 
sixth,  B,  one-third,  and  C,  one-half  of  the  whole. " 

restive  :  Objection  has  been  made  to  the  use  of  this 
word  in  the  sense  of  restless,  as  commonly  applied  to 

185 


reticule  A  Desk-Book  of 

right 

a  horse,  on  the  ground  that  it  formerly  meant  "stub- 
bom,  balky,  refusing  to  go."  On  this  subject  Fitz- 
edward  Hall  ("False  Philolog}^"  p.  97)  says  :  "The 
ordinar}^  sense  of  the  v/ord  has  always  been  '  unruly,  * 
'  intractable, ' '  refractor}-. '  Proofs  are  subjoined  from 
Lord  Brooks,  Dr.  Featly,  Fuller,  ^lilton,  Jeremy  Col- 
lins, Samuel  Richardson,  Burke,  Coleridge,  Mr.  De 
Quincey  and  Landor.  As  concerns  a  horse,  however, 
if  he  resists  an  attempt  to  keep  him  quiet,  he  shows 
himself  restive.^* 

reticule,  ridicule  :  Two  words^  widely  different  in 
meaning  but  liable  to  confusion  when  spoken  hur- 
riedly. A  reticule  is  a  bag-like  receptacle  used  by 
ladies  for  carrying  such  articles  as  embroidery,  needle- 
work, etc.;  ridicule  is  speech  or  behavior  intended  to 
convey  contempt  and  excite  laughter;  wit,  as  of  the 
pen  or  pencil,  that  provokes  contemptuous  laughter. 

reverend,  reverent :  These  words  are  sometimes  con- 
founded. The  one  is  objective  and  descriptive  of  the 
feeling  with  ".^^hich  a  person  is  regarded;  the  other  is 
subjective  and  descriptive  of  the  feeling  within  a  per- 
son. In  explanation  of  the  difference.  Dean  Alford 
offers  the  following  instance:  "Dean  Swift  might  be 
Very  Reverend  by  common  courtesy,  but  he  was  cer- 
tainly not   very  reverent  in   his  conduct   or  in   his 


writmgs. 


>> 


Reverend,  abbreviated  Rev.  as  a  title,  should,  like 
Honorable^  be  preceded  by  the  definite  article,  the 

186 


Errors  in  English  reticule 

^  right 

phrase  being  adjectival;  as,  "The  Reverend  Thomas 
Jones";  or,  if  the  first  name  is  not  used,  "The  Rev- 
erend Mr.  Jones" ;  but  Rev.  Jones,"  used  widely  in 
the  United  States,  is  harsh  if  not  rude.  The  title 
or  distinction  of  a  husband  is  not  correctly  applied 
to  the  wife.  Never  say  The  Rev.  Mrs  Smith  or  Mrs. 
General  Brown,  etc. 

reverse  should  not  be  confounded  with  converse 
Reverse  is  the  opposite  or  antithesis  of  something; 
minus  is  the  reverse  of  plus.  The  "converse''  is  "the 
opposite  reciprocal  proposition,"  reached  by  trans- 
position of  the  terms  of  the  proposition,  the  subject 
becoming  predicate  and  the  predicate  subject.  The 
converse  of  the  proposition,  "If  two  sides  of  a 
triangle  be  equal,  the  angles  opposite  to  those  sides 
are  equal,"  is,  "If  two  angles  of  a  triangle  be  equal, 
the  sides  opposite  to  those  angles  are  equal." 

revolts:  The  use  of  this  word  as  a  transitive  verb, 
although  supported  by  high  authority,  is  not  favored. 
"This  revolts  me"  is  far  better  expressed  by  "This 
is  revolting  to  me." 

ride,  drive:  One  rides  in  a  saddle  or  drives  in  a 
carriage ;  a  distinction  drawn  by  English  people  but 
condemned  as  "mere  pedantry  without  a  pretense 
of  philological  authority"  by  Gould  ("Good  English," 
p.  84).    Compare  drive. 

rigged  out.    Compare  togged  out. 

right:  In  the  adverbial  sense  of  in  a  great  degree, 

187 


right  A  Desk-Book  of 

rise 

is  archaic  or  colloquial,  except  in  some  titles,  as 
Right  Reverend.  Say  of  a  thing  that  it  is  utterly  (not 
right)  nonsensical.  Again,  the  use  of  this  adverb  in 
the  sense  of  precisely  and  zvithout  delay  is  not  ap- 
proved by  many  purists,  who  suggest  that  some  moie 
suitable  term  be  chosen.  "Stand  right  there,"  foi 
"Stand  precisely  where  you  are"  or  "stand  just  at 
that  spot"  is  not  approved ;  so  is  it  also  with  "Do  this 
right  away"  for  "do  this  instantly." 

right  as  a  noun  should  not  be  used  for  "just  cause 
to  expect"  or  the  verb  "deserve."  Thus,  instead  of 
"You  have  a  right  to  suffer"  say  "You  deserve  (or 
have  just  cause  to  expect)  to  suffer." 

right  away,  right  off:  Common  and  undesirable 
colloquialisms  for  "at  once,"  "instantly." 

right  back,  to  be:  An  unwarranted  colloquialism 
for  "to  be  here  (or  there)  again  in  a  moment." 

right  man  in  the  right  place,  the:  It  is  claimed  by 
some  persons  that  it  is  impossible  for  the  right  man 
to  be  in  the  wrong  place,  or  the  wrong  man  in  the 
right  place — the  result  being  in  either  case  that  right, 
or  the  thing  desired,  would  not  prevail.  But  the  re- 
verse, the  exact  thing  not  desired  or  the  wrong,  may 
be  that  which  ensues — Why?  Possibly  because  the 
man  who  was  the  very  man  to  bring  the  transaction 
to  a  successful  issue  was  wrongly  placed,  or  because 
the  thing  desired,  which  could  easily  have  been 
achieved  with  a  certain  man  or  type  of  man  to  do  it 

188 


Errors  in  English  right 

rise 
^as  attempted  by  a  less  efficient  man — good  perhaps 
for  some  things  but  not  for  that  particular  work. 
The  poor  fellows  who  rode  so  gallantly  to  death  at 
Balaklava  were  the  right  fellows  for  the  work  in 
hand,  but  at  that  fatal  moment  were  forced  into  a 
wrong  place.  The  phrase  expresses  a  felt  meaning 
and  is  good,  as  is  acknowledged  when,  in  terms  of 
pride  and  satisfaction,  we  refer  to  "  the  man  behind 
the  gun." 

rights  and  privileges  :  To  be  used  with  discrimi- 
nation. A  privilege  is  "  something  peculiar  to  one  or 
some  as  distinguished  from  others;  a  prerogative "  ; 
so  that  the  term  is  to  be  employed  relatively.  "The 
rights  and  privileges  of  the  people,"  as  often  used  ab- 
solutely in  political  platforms,  demagogical  speeches, 
and  radical  newspapers,  is  incorrect,  since  the  people 
in  this  sense  can  have  no  privileges,  i.  e.,  "things  pe- 
culiar to  individuals."  Milton's  use  is  correct  when 
he  says  "We  do  not  mean  to  destroy  all  the  people's 
rights  and  privileges, ^^  since  he  is  speaking  of  the 
people  relatively,  as  distinguished  from  the  magis- 
strates  and  the  king. — Standard  Dictionary. 

rise  :  Some  lexicographers  claim  a  distinction  in 
the  pronunciation  of  the  word  rise  as  a  noun  and  rise 
as  a  verb,  making  the  noun  rhyme  with  "rice"  and 
the  verb  rhyme  with  "prize,"  but  common  usage 
sanctions  only  one  pronunciation,  that  rhyming  with 


"prize." 


189 


roast  A   Desk-Book   of 


's 


roast :  A  slang  term  used  occasionally  by  journal- 
ists and  members  of  the  theatrical  profession  as  an 
equivalent  for  "banter"  or  "ridicule,"  as  in  a  press 
notice. 

rooster  :  A  word  often  incorrectly  restricted  in  its 
meaning.  This  is  due  in  a  measure  to  usage  as  re- 
corded by  lexicographers.  If  a  roost  is  a  perch  upon 
which  fowls  rest  at  night,  then  a  rooster  is  any  fowl 
which  perches  on  a  roost,  be  it  cock  or  hen.  But  the 
domestic  fowl  is  not  the  only  bird  that  roosts,  there- 
fore any  bird  that  does  so,  be  it  what  it  may,  is  as 
much  a  rooster  as  the  male  or  female  domestic  fowl. 

rope  in,  to  :  A  colloquialism  for  "  to  cause  to  par- 
ticipate in"  or  in  a  bad  sense  "to  swindle."  In  the 
latter  sense  it  is  used  especially  when  the  intention 
is  to  induce  a  person  to  invest  in  a  scheme  that  is 
known  beforehand  to  be  of  questionable  worth. 

rubber  should  not  be  used  as  a  synonym  for 
"crane"  ;  nor  rubber-necking  for  "craning  the  neck." 
These  terms  are  slang  which  have  been  derived  from 
rubber-neck,  a  playful  expression  said  to  be  current 
among  the  children  of  Nova  Scotia  and  used  by  them 
on  April   ist  instead  of  the  more   common  "April 

fool." 

rubber-neck  :  Slang  for  one  who  cranes  his  neck 
so  as  to  see  things  that  are  none  of  his  concern. 

rubbers  :  As  a  rule  an  article  of  clothing  should  not 
be  referred  to  in  terms  of  the  material  of  which  it 

X90 


Errors  in  English  roast 


's 


consists.     Overshoes,  for  instance,  should  be  so  styled, 
and  not  called  either  rubbers  or  gums. 

nigged,  hardy  :  Rugged  in  the  sense  of  robust,  as 
in  health,  is  an  undesirable  Americanism  for  it  means 
primarily  "  superficially  rough,  broken  irregularly;  as 
rugged  cliffs."  Hardy  means  inured  as  to  toil,  expo- 
sure, or  want. 

s 

's  :  "  The  sign  or  sufl&x  of  the  possessive  or  genitive 
case  singular  and  of  the  same  case  plural  when  the 
noun  ends  in  n;  as,  men's  lives;  children's  books; 
shortened  since  the  17th  century  from  ^Middle  Eng- 
lish -es.  The  apostrophe  now  replaces  the  e.  Some 
words  ending  in  a  sibilant  omit  the  ^  of  the  possessive 
to  avoid  the  disagreeable  repetition  of  a  hissing  sound. 
The  rules  formulated  for  this  work  are  as  follow:  (i) 
Singular  monosyllabic  nouns  ending  in  a  sibilant  sound 
(Sj  X,  ce,  se,  or  dental  ge)  add  the  apostrophe  and  s^ 
except  when  the  following  word  begins  with  a  sibilant 
sound;  as,  Jameses  reign;  Joneses  hat;  a  fox^  skin. 
(2)  Singular  dissyllabic  nouns  ending  in  a  sibilant 
sound  add  the  apostrophe  and  s,  unless  the  sibilant 
is  followed  by  another  sibilant  or  the  last  syllable  is 
unaccented;  as,  Fonts'  defeat;  Moses'  face;  Jesus 
disciples;  Laplace's  theor}-;  Hortense's  fate.  (3)  Sin- 
gular polysyllabic  nouns  ending  in  a  sibilant  sound 

add  the  apostrophe  and  s  only  when  a  principal  or 

191 


•ame  A   Desk-Book  of 

school 

secondary  accent  falls  on  the  last  syllable;  as,  Boni- 
facets  mistake;  Qiiackenhos^s  Rhetoric;  Orosius's  His- 
tory."— Standard  Dictionary. 

same  :  This  word  should  not  be  used,  as  it  is  in 
commercial  correspondence — in  substitution  for  it. 
If  "the  same"  is  correctly  used,  a  noun  is  implied;  as 
"  it  is  the  same  (referring  to  an  illness)  as  he  suffered 
from."  However,  do  not  say,  "Tell  me  what  you 
wish,  and  the  same  (meaning  it)  will  be  attended 
to."  Same  is  also  often  used  where  similar  is  the 
proper  word.  A  gale  blowing  to-day  with  a  ve- 
locity of  60  miles  an  hour  is  similar  to,  but  is  not 
the  same  as,  one  that  blew  with  a  velocity  of  60 
miles  one  year  ago,  although  it  has  the  same  amount 
of  velocity. 

sameness,  similarity  :  Discriminate  carefully  be- 
tween these  words.  Sameness  is  the  state  of  being 
identically  the  same;  absolute  resemblance;  similar- 
ity is  likeness  or  partial  resemblance.     See  same. 

sappy:  An  undesirable  colloquiahsm  for  "weakly 
sentimental;  silly." 

sass  :  Vulgar   term   for   "impertinence"  ;  "sauci- 


ness." 


satire,  satyr  :  Note  the  difference  in  the  spelling  of 
these  words.  A  satire  is  a  dramatic  farce  or  medley; 
a  satyr  is  a  woodland  deity. 

saw,  seen :  In  popular  use,  in  some  regions,  often 

carelessly  and  inexcusably  interchanged.    Saw  is  the 

192 


Errors  in   English  same 

school 

imperfect  tense  of  see^  and  to  be  used  as  such  only; 

seen  is  Its  past  participle,  and  the  foim  to  be  used, 

with  the  proper  auxiharies,  in  the  tenses  formed  with 

the  aid  of  the  past  participle.     Not  "I  seen  him,"  but 

"I  saiv  him"  ;  not  "I  have  (or  had)  never  saw  it," 

but  "I  have  (or  had)  never  seen  it." 

say.     Compare  utter. 

says  I :  A  vulgarism  sometimes  heard  from  even 
the  educated  :  entirelv  indefensible. 

scan.     Compare  peruse. 

scarcely,  hardly  :  These  words  are  not  strictly  syn- 
onymous. Scarcely  is  applied  to  quantity,  hardly  to 
degree;  as,  "Scarcely  an  hour  has  passed  since  we 
parted"  ;  "He  is  nardly  well  enough  to  rise." 

scared  of  should  not  be  used  for  "fearful  of."  It 
should  be  used  only  when  positive  alarm,  absolute 
fright  is  felt. 

scholar :  Alliteration  is  probably  responsible  foi 
"Sunday-school  scholar''  for  although  the  word  origi- 
nally signified  one  who  attends  school  for  instruction, 
it  has  now  come  to  imply  one  who  is  distinguished  for 
the  pursuit  and  possession  of  knowledge;  and,  as  such, 
it  is  a  high-sounding  title  for  a  pupil,  who  may  be  a 
mere  beginner,  and  is  supposedly  under  the  close  per- 
sonal supervision  of  a  tutor. 

school :  A  term  which,  apart  from  its  use  designa- 
ting an  educational  institution,  formerly  also  described 
'*a,  large   multitude   or  company"   but   is  now  re- 

193 


scrap  A  Desk-Book  of 

settle 

stricted  in  its  application  to  marine  animals  only;  as, 

"a  school  of  whales." 

scrap  :  A  vulgarism  for  "fight"  or  "quarrel." 

screw  loose,  to  have  a  ;  A  slang  phrase  used  some- 
times as  a  substitute  for  "  to  be  irrational  or  mentally 
weak." 

sealing.     Compare  ceiling. 

search  me  :  A  colloquialism  used  usually  as  a  non- 
commital  reply  to  an  interrogatory  and  best  rendered 
by  a  decisive  answer  as,  "I  don't  know." 

seasonable,  timely  :  These  terms  are  not  synony- 
mous. That  which  is  seasonable  is  in  harmony  or 
keeping  with  the  season  or  occasion;  that  which  is 
timely  is  in  good  time.  A  thing  may  be  timely  in 
appearance  that  is  not  seasonable. 

see,  witness  :  These  words  are  not  synonymous. 
See  is  used  of  things,  witness  of  events.  Thus,  we 
may  see  soldiers,  but  witness  a  review;  see  a  man,  but 
witness  an  assault. 

seem.     Compare  appear. 

seldom  or  ever  :  A  very  common  error  for  "  seldom 
if  ever."  One  may  say  "I  seldom  if  ever  speak 
so,"  meaning  to  imply  doubt;  thus,  "I  seldom  speak 
so  ij  indeed  I  ever  do."  An  alternative  form  is 
"I  seldom  or  never  speak  so,"  which  is  more  em- 
phatic and  implies  personal  opinion,  as  "I  speak  so 
very   seldom   or  (according  to  my  belief)   probably 


never. " 


194 


Errors  in  English  scrap 

settle 

semi-occasionally :  A  meaningless  expression  for 
**once  in  a  while"  which  is  decidedly  preferable. 

sensation  should  not  be  used  for  "noteworthy 
tvent." 

sensual,  sensuous :  These  are  not  synonymous 
terms.  A  sensual  man  is  one  who  is  given  to  the  in- 
ordinate indulgence  of  his  animal  appetites;  a  sen- 
suous one  is  one  w4io  has  a  warm  appreciation  for 
the  beautiful  and  is  keenly  alive  to  sense-affecting 
influences. 

separate  :  One  of  a  class  of  words  which  are  per- 
sistently misspelled.  Note  that  it  contains  only  two 
"e's",  one  in  its  first  syllable  and  one  in  its  last  ;  and 
that  "a"  forms  its  second  syllable. 

serial.     Compare  cereal. 

session.     Compare  cession. 

set,  sit :  According  to  strict  grammatical  rule,  sit 
when  referring  to  posture  is  always  an  active  intrans- 
itive, and  set  an  active  transitive.  "To  sit  on  eggs" 
has  been  characterized  as  colloquial  English,  but  is 
sanctioned  by  the  translators  of  the  King  James  ver- 
sion of  the  Bible.  "As  the  partridge  sitteth  on  eggs 
and  hatcheth  them  not"  (Jer.  xvii.  ii).  Shakespeare 
wrote  "  Birds  sit  brooding  in  the  snow"  (L.  L.  L.  act  v. 
sc.  2).  On  a  poultry-farm  the  farmhand  sets  the  hen 
but  the  hen  sits. 

settle  :  Do  not  speak  of  settling  a  bill  unless  there 

is  some  matter  in  dispute  concerning  it  that  requires 

195 


severally  A    Desk-Book    of 

siege 

settlement.     Under  ordinary  circumstances  you  pay 

an  undisputed  account. 

severally.     See  respectively  under  respectfully. 

sewage,  sewerage  :  These  words  are  often  con- 
founded. Sewage  is  the  waste  matter  which  is  carried 
off  through  drains  and  sewers;  sewerage  is  the  system 
of  piping  and  draining  by  means  of  which  the  sewage 
is  carried  off. 

shakes,  no  great :  An  undesirable  colloquialism 
for  "not  much  good,"  "of  no  great  importance." 

shall,  will :  "  Often  erroneously  interchanged.  In 
general  simple  futurity  is  expressed  by  shall  in  the 
first  person  and  will  in  the  second  and  third,  while 
determination  is  expressed  by  will  in  the  fu-st  and 
shall  in  the  second  and  third.  In  interrogations  in 
the  second  and  third  persons  the  usage  is  not  so 
simple,  the  speaker  often  putting  himself  in  the 
place  of  the  one  spoken  to  or  spoken  of,  and  using 
shall  or  will^  as  if  for  the  first  person." — Standard 
Dictionary. 

Sheeny  :  An  offensive  appellative  for  a  Jew  used 
only  by  the  illiterate  and  \ailgar. 

shire  :  As  this  word  means  county,  do  not  say 
"county  "  when  speaking  of  any  "shire."  "  Oxford- 
shire" and  "the  county  of  Oxford,"  are  correct,  but 
not  "the  county  of  Oxfordshire." 

shoal :  In  general  this  word  is  applied  to  an  as- 
semblage, a  multitude  or  a  throng,  but,  specifically 

196 


Errors  In  English         severally 

siege 
it  designates  a  number  of  fish  that  move  together;  as, 
"a  shoal  of  porpoises."     Compare  school. 

should  setm,  would  seem  :  Terms  used  chiefly  to 
soften  requests,  orders  or  directions.  The  use  of 
should  in  such  a  remark  as  ''It  should  seem  so" — 
implying  that  something  suggested  was  correct — • 
dates  from  pre-Elizabethan  time.  Here  would  should 
be  substituted  for  should. 

should,  would  :  These  words  follow  in  the  main  the 
usage  of  shall  and  liill,  but  with  certain  modifications 
required  by  their  common  use  in  dependent  sentences. 
In  general,  in  indirect  quotation,  should  is  to  be  used 
after  a  historical  tense  where  the  speaker  quoted  em- 
ployed shallj  and  would  where  the  speaker  quoted 
will.  Thus: 
(  Direct  quotation  :  *'  He  said  to  me, '  You  shall  go. '  " 
(  Indirect      "  "He  said  that  I  should  go." 

(  Direct  "       "He  said  to  me,  'Will  vou  go?'  " 

j  Indirect      "  "He  asked  me  if  I  would  go." 

The  mixture  of  direct  and  indirect  is  always  WTong; 
avoid,  "He  asked  me  would  I  go." 

shut  up  :  A  coarse  expression  often  too  commonly 
used   instead   of   "keep  quiet."     Compare  torget 

IT. 

sideways  should  not  be  used  for  sidewise. 

siege,  seige  :  Discriminate  carefully  between  these 
words.  A  siege  is  an  investment  as  of  a  city  by  miH- 
tary  forces;  as,  "the  siege  of  Paris"  ;  a  seige  is  a  flock 

197 


eieve  A  Desk-Book  of 

soppy 

of  birds;  as,  "a  seige  of  cranes."    Note  especially  the 
orthography  of  these  words. 

sieve,  seive  :  Homophones  of  widely  different  mean 
iixg.    A  sieve  is  a  utensil  for  sifting;  a  seive  is  a  rush 
or  rush-wick. 

sight :  As  a  colloquialism  meaning  a  very  great 
quantity,  number,  or  amount;  as,  "  a  sight  of  people,  '* 
the  noun  is  to  be  avoided,  as  in  the  still  more  objec- 
tionable expression,  "powerful  sight,"  in  which  the 
adjective  is  altogether  misapplied. 

similax.     Compare  same. 

sin.     Compare  cruie. 

since,  ago  :  Since  is  used  generally  to  imply 
time  only  recently  lapsed;  ago,  to  imply  time  long 
past.  "How  long  since  did  he  call?  "  "Nelson 
fought  Trafalgar  a  century  ago." 

siree  ;  sirree  Bob  :  Vulgar  and  silly  intensives  of 
afl&rmation. 

site.     Compare  cite. 

skidoo  :  Recent  slang  for  "get  out"  which  is  to  be 
preferred. 

skin,  to  :  A  vulgarism  for  "  to  deprive  by  extortion 
or  trickery;  get  the  better  of,"  either  of  which  is 
preferable. 

skunk  :  As  applied  to  a  person  of  mean  disposition 
or  of  objectionable  character  the  term  is  to  be  con- 
demned as  unsuited  to  polite  society  no  matter  how 
fittingly  it  may  apply  to  the  individual  designated  by  it. 

198 


Errors  in  English  sieve 

soppy- 
slob  :  A  vulgar  equivalent  for  **  a  careless,  negli- 
gent and  incompetent  person,"  and  as  such  one  to 
be  avoided. 

so.     Compare  such. 

soap:  A  vulgar  euphemism  for  "wealth";  used 
usually  interrogatively  as,  "How's  he  off  for  soap?  " 
A  vulgarism  for  "How  rich  is  he?"  which  is  to  be 
preferred. 

so  far  as.     Compare  AS  far  as. 

sojourn  :  This  term  formerly  obsolete  has  recently 
been  revived  as  meaning  to  "  have  a  residence,  definite 
though  temporary,  in  some  place  that  is  not  one's 
home. "  Sojourn  is  better  than  stop,  which  may  imply 
merely  cessation  of  motion  and  does  not  express  even 
temporary  residence;  more  specific  than  stay,  which 
may  apply  to  a  delay  of  an  hour  between  trains  or  the 
passing  of  a  night. 

some  :  This  word  should  never  be  used  for  "  some- 
what." In  such  sense,  some  is  dialectal  and  provin- 
cial. Do  not  say  "He  has  grown  some^^  but  "gro^vn 
sotnewhatj^'  that  is  "in  some  degree"  or  "to  some  ex- 
tent." "Is  he  better?  "  "Yes,  soj?ie:  "  avoid  such 
a  locution. 

someone  else,  somebody  else.     See  under  else. 

some  place.     Compare  any  place. 

somewhat.     Compare  kind  of  and  like. 

soppy  :  A  vulgarism  for  "emotional"  :  expressive 

but  inelegant. 

199 


sorry  A    Desk-Book    of 

stationary 

sorry,  grieved  :  Distinguish  between  these  words  in 
their  use.  If  we  are  sorry,  it  is  for  a  matter  concern- 
ing ourselves;  but  when  we  are  grieved,  another  is  in 
some  way  connected  with  the  case. 

sort  of.     Compare  kind  of. 

sparrow  grass  sometimes  abbreviated  grass  are 
common  corruptions  in  domestic  use  for  asparagus. 
There  is  no  excuse  but  lack  of  education  or  lack  of 
intelligence  and  courage  to  use  the  right  word  when 
the  majority  prefer  the  wTong  for  this  vulgar  provin- 
cialism. 

speciality,  specialty  :  These  words  should  not  be 
confounded.  The  distinction  between  them  is  clearly 
illustrated  by  the  editor  of  the  Standard  Diction- 
ary as  follows  :  "Speciality  is  the  state  or  quality  of 
being  special  ;  specialty  is  an  employment  to  which 
one  is  specially  devoted,  an  article  in  which  one  spe- 
cially deals,  or  the  like." 

spectator.     Compare  audience. 

spell  should  not  be  used  for  "  period  of  time. "    Do 
lot  say  "I  shall  stay  a  spell"  if  you  mean  you  will 
'remain  a  little  while,''  the  latter   is   to   be    pre- 
ferred. 

splendid  :  Often  used  indiscriminately  and  inanely 
especially  by  women;  as  in  the  expression  "perfectly 
splendid,''  to  express  very  great  excellence.  Splendid 
means  imposing  ;  as,  "a  splendid  woman";  shedding 
brilliant  light   or  shining  brightly;  as,   "a  splendid 

200 


Errors   in   English  sorry 

stationary 
sun";  "a  splendid  diamond."  A  heroic  deed  may 
be  .called  splendid  but  a  good  story  hardly  so. 

split  or  cleft  infinitive:  A  form  of  expression  in 
which  the  sign  of  the  infinitive  "  to  "  and  its  verb  are 
separated  by  some  intervening  word,  usually  an  ad- 
verb, as  in  the  phrase,  "  to  quickly  return  " :  severely 
condemned  by  purists. 

spondulix:  Vulgarism  for  "money,"  now  passing 
out  of  use. 

spoonfuls,  spoons  full:  These  words  have  distinc- 
tive meanings.  Spoonfuls  means  one  spoon  filled  re- 
peatedly; spoons  full  means  several  spoons  filled 
once.     Compare  -ful. 

spout,  up  the:  A  vulgarism  for  "with  the  pawn- 
broker," or  "  out  of  sight." 

spree,  to  go  on  a:  Formerly  this  phrase  desig- 
nated indulgence  in  boisterous  frolic  and  excess  of 
drink:  latterly  the  term  has  been  used  to  denote 
"  going  on  an  outing  for  the  day." 

square,  on  the :  A  colloquialism  for  "  with  fair  in- 
tention or  with  reputation  for  fair  dealing;  honest." 

stake,  steak:  Exercise  care  in  the  use  of  these 
homophones.  A  stake  is  a  stick  or  post,  as  of  wood ; 
a  steak  is  a  slice  of  meat.  Note  the  difference  in 
spelling. 

standpoint  should  not  be  used  for  "  point  of  view." 

stationary,  stationery:  Exercise  care  in  the  use  of 
these  words.    Stationary  is  remaining  in  one  place  or 

201 


statu©  A  Desk-Book  of 

stricken 

position;  stationery ,  writing-materials  in  general 
These  words  are  pronounced  alike. 

statue,  statute  :  These  words  are  sometimes  con- 
founded; a  statue  is  a  plastic  representation  of  a  human 
or  animal  figure  as  in  marble  or  bronze.  A  statute  is 
a  properly  authenticated  legislative  enactment,  es- 
pecially one  passed  by  a  body  of  representatives. 

stay  and  stop  :  Stay  is  sometimes  used  incorrectly 
for  stop;  do  not  say  "I  shall  stay  in  Paris  on  my  way 
to  Berlin,"  but  "I  shall  stop  in  Paris  "  etc.  Do  not 
say  "How  long  will  you  stop  there?  '*  but  "How  long 
will  you  stay  ?  "  etc.     Compare  sojourn  and  stop. 

step.     See  stop. 

stiff  is  used  for  a  "corpse"  only  by  the  ver}^  lowest 
type  of  humanity. 

stile,  style  :  Exercise  care  in  spelling  these  words. 
A  stile  is  a  step  or  series  of  steps  on  each  side  of  a 
fence  or  wall,  to  aid  in  surmounting  it;  style  is  fashion. 

stimulant,  stimulus  :  The  first  of  these  words  de- 
notes that  which  stimulates  the  system,  as  coffee  does 
the  action  of  the  heart.  A  stimulus  is  that  which  im- 
pels or  urges  on;  as,  "a  stimulus  to  hard  work  is  of- 
fered by  the  pecuniary  reward  it  yields." 

stinker  :  A  coarse  term  applied  to  an  undesirable 
acquaintance  only  by  the  vulgar.  It  is  a  term  that 
unfortunately  has  some  vogue  in  commercial  life. 

stop  :  The  word  is  frequently  misused,  both  for 
step  and  stay.     ^^ Stop  in  next  time  you  pass"  or  "  stop 

202 


Errors  in   English  statue 

stricken 

ofj  on  your  way  do\NTi  by  car"  are  colloquial  but  ob- 
jectionable expressions.  The  latter  clearly  means 
^^ step  off  and  call  in"  and  would  be  met  by  a  simple 
"call  in."  Slop  implies  finality,  and  should  therefore 
never  be  used  in  the  sense  of  a  temporary  stay.  The 
true  meaning  of  the  word  stop  was  well  understood  by 
the  man  who  did  not  invite  his  professed  friend  to 
visit  him:  ''If  you  come  at  any  time  within  ten  miles 
of  my  house,  just  stop.^' — Mathews,  Words^  Their 
Use  and  Abuse,  ch.  xiv.  p.  359. 

straight,  strait :  Exercise  care  in  spelling  these 
words.  That  which  is  straight  lies  evenly  between  any 
two  of  its  points  or  passes  from  one  point  to  another  by 
direct  course;  not  curved.  A  strait  is  a  narrow  channel 
connecting  two  seas.  In  the  plural,  strait  denotes  a 
difficult  or  restricted  condition;  distress  or  perplexity. 

street :  According  to  law,  land  includes  all  above 
and  all  below.  Thus  a  house  on  the  land  or  a  gold 
mine  beneath  is  covered  by  the  word  land,  and  its 
possessor  is  entitled  to  both  one  and  the  other.  In 
the  same  way  a  street  includes  the  houses  there  built; 
and  it  is  therefore  not  strictly  correct  to  speak  of  a 
certain  house  as  being  on  a  certain  street  :  it  is  in  the 
street  and  is  part  of  it.     Compare  on. 

stricken  :  As  a  past  participle  of  strike,  archaic 
in  England,  except  when  there  is  an  implication  in  it 
of  misfortune;  as,  "He  was  stricken  with  paralysis." 
In  the  United  States  stricken,  in  general  application. 

203 


string  A  Desk-Book  of 

take 

is  not  so  distinctly  archaic,  and  its  use  in  reference  to 
the  erasure  of  words  is  very  frequent;  as,  "It  is  or- 
dered that  the  words  objected  to  be  stricken  out. "  In 
the  best  Hterary  usage  of  both  countries  struck  is  pre- 
ferred to  stricken  when  no  impHcation  of  misfortune 
is  conveyed  in  it.  Stricken  is  the  appropriate  parti- 
cipial adjective;  as,  "a  stricken  man"  ;  "a  stricken 
deer." — Standard  Dictionary. 

string,  to  get  on  a  :  A  harmless  but  inelegant  equiv- 
alent for  "to  hoax,"  which  is  to  be  preferred. 

subtile,  subtle  :  "Subtile  Siud  subtle  have  been  con- 
stantly used  as  interchangeable  by  good  ^\Titers  but 
there  seems  to  be  a  present  tendency  to  distinguish 
them  by  making  subtile  an  attribute  of  things  and 
subtle  a  characteristic  of  mind."  A  penetrating  per- 
fume is  described  as  subtile y  whereas  a  wily  sage's 
predominating  characteristic  is  subtlety. 

succeed  should  not  be  used  now  in  the  archaic  sense 
of  "to  make  successful,  promote"  ;  as,  "to  succeed 
an  enterprise." 

succeed  himself :  An  absurd  phrase.  A  person 
who  takes  the  place  of  a  predecessor  succeeds  him; 
one  who  has  occupied  a  public  office  for  a  term  pre- 
scribed by  law  and  is  reelected  to  that  office  succeeds 
his  own  previous  term  of  office  but  not  himself. 

such  :  This  word  is  often  erroneously  used  for  "  so. " 
Do  not  say  "I  never  saw  such  a  high  building"  ;  say, 
tather.  "     .     „     .     50  high,  a  building. " 

^0^ 


Errors  in  English  string 

take 

such  another.     Compare  another  such. 

sucker  for  "sponger"  or  "parasite"  is  slang  of 
the  lowest  type  and  should  be  avoided  by  all  persons 
of  refinement. 

summons  :  You  smnmon  a  person  to  court  upon  a 
summons.  There  is  properly  no  such  verb  as  sum^ 
fnons,  the  colloquial  use  of  the  term  being  altogether 
unjustifiable. 

superior.     Compare  inferior. 

sure  :  Often  misused  for  "surely"  in  the  sense  of 
"certainly."  Do  not  say  "Sure  I'm  going";  say, 
rather,  "I'm  surely  going." 

surprise.     Compare  astonish. 

sympathize  with,  sympathy  for  :  The  verb  sym^ 
pathize  takes  only  with;  the  noun  sympathy^  in  its 
secondary  sense  of  "commiseration,"  is  often  properly 
followed  by  for.  \\q  have  sympathy  with  one's  aspi- 
rations, jor  his  distress;  the  sound  man  has  sympathy 
jor  the  wounded;  the  wounded  man  has  sympathy 
with  his  fellow  sufferers. 

sympathy.     Compare  pity. 

T 

take  :  Often  incorrectly  used  for  have,  especially  in 
extending  hospitality,  in  such  a  sentence  as  "WTiat 
will  you  take  ?  " 

take  on  for  grieve,  scold,  etc.,  like  carry  on  for 
behave  sportively  may  both  be  tolerated  as  colloqui- 

205 


takes  A   Desk-Book  of 

thanks 

alisms  that  are  popular  because  of  their  irrationality, 

or  because  they  require  no  discrimination  in  statement. 

takes  the  cake.     See  cake. 

take  up  school :  An  objectionable  local  American- 
ism for  begin  school:  used  also  intransitively;  as, 
"  School  took  tip  at  9  o'clock  "  :  avoid  this. 

talent  should  not  be  used  for  "  talents"  or  " abiHty.  '* 

talented  :  Inasmuch  as  adjectives  of  the  participial 
form  are  justified  by  strict  grammarians  only  if  de- 
rived from  an  existing  verb,  this  word  has  been  cav- 
iled at  by  Coleridge  (who  denounced  it  as  "  that  vile 
and  barbarous  vocable")  and  many  Uterary  pedants. 
Burke,  Hazlitt,  Lamb,  De  Quincey,  Macaulay  and 
Newman  have  however,  spoken  of  "a  talented  man"  ; 
and  in  the  face  of  this  array  of  learning  and  authority 
we  can  raise  but  a  modest  protest  in  favor  of  the 
contention  of  the  grammarians.  Such  formations 
are,  however,  not  to  be  indiscriminately  recom- 
mended. 

talk,  back.     Compare  back  talk. 

tasty  in  the  sense  of  tasteful  is  without  authority 
and  is  considered  an  illiterate  use.  A  person  or  his 
work  may  be  tasteful,  but  his  food,  however  savory, 
can  be  no  more  than  tasty. 

team :  Strictly  a  team  consists  of  two  or  more 
beasts  of  burden  harnessed  together,  but  in  the  Uni- 
ted States  the  word  is  extended  to  cover  "  team  and 
accessories,"  the  latter  being  the  harness  or  equip- 

200 


Errors  in   English  takes 

thanks 
ment,  together  with  the  vehicle  to  which  the  animals 
are  attached. 

tell  on  :  A  common  expression  with  children  used 
in  the  sense  of  "to  inform  against  a  person,"  is  de- 
rived from  Biblical  use  (i  Sam.  xxvii.  ii).  The 
plirase  lost  to  literary  English  has  now  no  equivalent. 

temper,  anger,  wrath  :  Words  in  the  use  of  which 
discrimination  should  be  used.  Temper  is  disposition 
or  constitution  of  the  mind,  especially  in  relation  to 
the  affections  or  the  passions;  anger  is  violence  or 
vindicated  passion  aroused  by  real  or  imaginary  in- 
sult or  injury.  One  may  have  an  irritable  temper 
without  being  necessarily  angry.  Wrath  is  deep,  de- 
termined, and  lasting  anger,  usually  accompanied  by 
outward  expression  of  displeasure.  Anger  may  be 
only  inward  feeling  without  the  outward  expression 
of  passion. 

tender  should  not  be  used  for  "give."  You  tender 
a  payment;  give  a  reception. 

testimony.     Compare  e\tdexce. 

than  as  a  conjunction  should  be  used  only  in  the 
case  of  direct  comparison;  as,  "I  esteem  this  more 
than  that."  When  the  comparison  is  merely  im- 
plied, or  covered  by  the  verb,  as  by  the  verb  prefer, 
than  should  not  be  used.      See  prefer. 

thanks  has  been  condemned  as  an  undignified  col- 
loquialism bordering  on  incivility;  but  what  serious 
objection  is  there  to  this  pithy  acknowledgment  of 

207 


than  A  Desk-Book  of 

the 

obligation  or  gratitude  ?  It  has  been  said  that  Shakes- 
peare made  use  of  the  expression  no  fewer  than  fifty- 
five  times,  and  that  the  Bible  four  times  contains  the 
utterance  ''thanks  be  to  God,"  Shakespeare's  use 
of  the  word  with  "much"  as  an  adjective  is  indeed 
most  forcible — "for  this  relief  much  thanks.'* 

than  me  should  never  be  used  for  than  I.  Say, 
"He  is  taller  than  I";  not  "He  is  taller  than  me." 

than  whom:  A  phrase  objected  to  by  some  gram- 
.  matical  critics,  in  such  locutions  as  "Cromwell,  than 
whom  no  man  was  better  skilled  in  artifice" ;  but 
shown  to  be  "a  quite  classic  expression."  Formerly 
than  was  often  but  not  always  used  as  a  preposition, 
and  than  whom  is  probably  a  survival  of  such  usage. 
"Than  zvhom'*  is  generally  accepted  as  permissible — 
probably  because  the  sentence  where  it  occurs  can 
not  be  mended  without  reconstruction,  and  it  has 
abundant  literary  authority. 

that :  In  construing  this  word,  it  must  be  recollected 
that  it  is  not  only  a  conjunction  but  also  a  pronoun, 
both  demonstrative  and  relative.  The  peculiarity 
of  the  word  is  such  that  it  can  be  used  more  times  in 
succession  than  any  other  word  in  the  English  lan- 
guage. Exception  having  been  taken  to  a  certain 
"that"  found  in  a  school-boy's  exercise,  it  was  shown 
that  that  that  that  that  boy  used  was  right.  Dean 
Alford  constructed  a  sentence  on  these  lines  which 
contained  no  fewer  than  nine  thats  in  succession. 

208 


Errors  in  English  than 

^  the 

That  used  adverbially  is  wholly  inexcusable.  "He 
sv^as  that  sick"  could  only  be  tolerated  if  an  ellipsis 
such  as  "he  was  (to)  that  (degree)  sick,"  could  be 
supposed,  but  this  is  more  than  can  be  done;  and  the 
expression  is  therefore  regarded  as  an  unpardonable 
vulgarism.     Compare  as,  that  (p.  22). 

that  there  :  An  illiterate  expression  commonly  used 
with  the  mistaken  idea  that  the  use  of  "there"  adds 
emphasis  to  what  follows,  as,  "  That  there  man. "  Say, 
rather,  "That  man  there"  or  simply,  and  preferably 
"That  man." 

that,  who  :  Discriminate  carefully  between  these 
words.  That  implies  restriction;  who  generally  de- 
notes coordination.  As  an  illustration  of  this  dis- 
tinction, Alfred  Ayres  says  ( "  The  Verbalist,"  p.  202), 
"  '  I  met  the  boatman  who  took  me  across  the  ferry.  * 
If  who  is  the  proper  word  here,  the  meaning  is  'I 
met  the  boatman,  and  he  took  me  across  the  ferry,' 
it  being  supposed  that  the  boatman  is  known  and 
definite.  But  if  there  be  several  boatmen,  and  I  wish 
to  indicate  one  in  particular,  by  the  circumstance  that 
he  had  taken  me  across  the  ferr}',  I  should  use  that. " 
That  ought,  therefore,  to  be  preferred  to  who  or  which 
whenever  an  antecedent  not  otherwise  limited  is  to 
be  restricted  bv  the  relative  clause. 

that's  him;  No,  "that's  /^e" — this  is  correct. 

the  :  Before  titles  of  honor,  such  as  Reverend,  Hon- 
orable,  the   definite   article  (though  now  frequently 

200 


the  A  Desk-Book  of 

this 

omitted)  should  be  used.     As  the  title  is  specific  and 
personal,  this  is  the  more  necessary. 

the  infinitive  :  The  particle  to  is  an  inherent  and 
component  part  of  the  infinitive,  and  is  strictly  in- 
separable therefrom,  in  precisely  the  same  way  that 
the  prefixed  syllable  which  assists  to  form  a  compound 
word  (as  ^constant)  is  a  necessary  part  of  the  com- 
pound. But  this  to  belongs  to  the  present  infinitive 
only,  and  properly  finds  no  place  in  such  expressions 
as  "He  was  fool  enough  to  have  risked  his  good 
name. "  Despite  the  hundreds  of  uses  of  this  method 
of  expression,  it  is  a  blunder  :  the  sentence  should 
read  "fool  enough  to  risk.^'  It  is,  too,  on  the 
ground  of  inseparability  that  the  split  infixitiv5- 
(which  see)  is  so  reprehensible.  "To  dance  grace- 
fully" should  not  be  transposed  into  "to  gracefull^i 
dance." 

them  :  The  use  of  this  word  as  a  demonstrative 
adjective  for  a  pronoun  is  wholly  unpermissible.  A 
common  error  due  to  a  desire  to  designate  particu- 
larly the  article  required.  Do  not  say  "  Give  me  them 
things";  say,  rather,  "...  those  things." 
However,  of  things  previously  mentioned  one  may 
say  "  Give  them  to  me. " 

then  :  The  use  of  this  word  as  an  adjective,  as  in 
the  phrase  "the  then  Bishop  of  York,"  has  been  ques- 
tioned; but  the  usage  is  expressive  and  convenient, 
and  is  supported  by  good  literary  authority. 

210 


Errors  In  English  th6 

this 

thence,  whence :  As  these  words  mean  "  from 
there,"  "from  where,"  they  should  not  be  preceded 
by  the    word   jrom   as    is    often    erroneously    done. 

these  is,  them  are  ;  Ungrammatical  phrases  used 
by  the  illiterate  for  "this  is";  ''those  are."  The 
pronouns  should  both  agree  in  number  with  the  verb 
they  govern. 

these  kind,  those  sort,  etc.  :  Such  expressions, 
though  common,  are  now  usually  considered  alto- 
gether wrong.  Nouns  in  the  singular  require  demon- 
strative adjectives  also  in  the  singular.  But  this  may 
be  used  instead  of  these  in  collective  expressions,  such 
as  "this  ten  years."  Yet  Shakespeare  has  many  in- 
stances of  this  use.  Thus,  in  "  Twelfth  Night " 
(act  i,  sc.  5)  he  wTites  ^' these  kind  of  fools,"  and  in 
"  King  Lear "  (act  ii,  sc.  2)  a  precisely  similar  ex- 
pression, "these  kind  of  knaves."  In  "Othello' 
(act  iii,  sc.  3)  he  has,  "these  are  a  kind  of  men." 

think,  don't.     See  don't  believe. 

this  or  that  much  :  Not  elegant  perhaps,  but  still 
correct  or  at  least  passable.  A  careful  speaker  would 
prefer  to  say  "this  much,"  because  much  being  an 
adjective  of  quahty  requires,  for  its  elucidation,  not 
a  pronoun  but  an  adverb.  It  is  true  that  in  the  ex- 
pression "this"  or  "that  much,"  the  word  "much" 
could  generally,  if  not  always,  be  omitted  without 
affecting  the  correctness  of  the  sentence  wherein  it  is 
used;  still  the  sense  would  not  be  precisely  the  same. 

211 


threatening       A    Desk-Boolc   of 

to-morrow 

"This  much  I  know"  denotes  a  limitation  in  the  ex- 
tent of  knowledge  which  is  not  restricted  by  "  this  I 
know," 

threatening.     Compare  eminent. 

three  first,  the  :  Incorrect  for  the  first  three :  one 
may,  however,  correctly  use  three  first  if  referring  to 
a  race,  or  the  like,  in  which  three  of  the  competitors 
run  a  dead  heat.     Compare  two  first. 

through  :  An  undesirable  colloquialism  for  "at  an 
end"  ;  "finished"  ;  generally  applied  to  speakers 
who  have  completed  an  address,  or  to  diners  who 
have  finished  a  meal.  Both  applications  are  marks 
of  ill-breeding  and  border  on  vulgarity. 

tickled  to  death  :  An  absurd  phrase  used  to  ex|^ess 
"greatly  pleased." 

till :  In  some  parts  of  the  United  States  oddly  mis- 
used for  by  ;  as,  "I'll  be  there  till  [hy]  ten  o'clock.'' 

time  :  Avoid  such  an  incongruity  as  "  Heaps  of 
time.^'  "Plenty  of  /fwe,"  or  "/ime  enough"  are  to 
be  preferred. 

timely.     Compare  seasonable. 

tinker's  dam  :  A  colloquialism  for  something  worth- 
less, used  usually  in  the  phrase  "Not  worth  a  tinker's 
dam."     Avoided  in  polite  society. 

tiny  Uttle  :  The  use  of  words  as  mere  intensives 
should  be  avoided,  for  by  judicious  selection  a  single 
word  can  probably  be  found  which  is  capable  of  con- 
veying the  precise  sense  desired.    To  speak  of  a  "  tiny 

212 


Errors   in    English       threatening 

to-morrow 

little  watch"  or  "a  great  big  house,"  indicates  a 

deplorable   poverty   of  vocabulary.     It   is   true   that 

Shakespeare  spoke  of  ''the  most  unkindest  cut  of  all"  ; 

but  he  made  use  of  intensives  only  when  the  unusual 

circumstances  of  the  case  required  them. 

tired,  to  make  one  :  A  colloquialism  for  "to  weary," 
or  "reduce  the  patience  of"  as  by  absurd  stories  or 
silly  conversation:  a  commonplace  expression  good  to 
avoid. 

to  :  Beware  of  using  the  preposition  to  when  at  is 
intended.  A  common  error  of  this  sort  is  instanced 
by  "He  was /o  school  this  morning."  Possibly  the 
error  is  made  rather  in  the  verb  than  the  preposi- 
tion, though  the  influencing  cause  of  error  in  the  un- 
educated does  not  always  admit  of  certainty.  We 
suggest,  therefore,  that  the  verb  "to  be"  is  used 
unintentionally  for  "to  go,"  and  that  the  sentence  is 
perhaps  intended  to  read  "he  went  to  school  this 
morning."     Compare  and;  for. 

*ogged  out  or  up  :  An  undesirable  and  \'ulgar  ex- 
pression for  "well-dressed"  or  "attired  in  clothes  that 
mav  attract  attention." 

to-morrow  :  This  word  is  often  used  with  different 
tenses,  the  question  being  raised  as  to  whether  it 
should  be  "to-morrow  is  Christmas  day"  or  "to- 
morrow will  he  Christmas  day. "  Both  forms  are  cor- 
rect. But,  generally,  in  using  this  word,  the  supposi- 
tion is  that  to-morrow  has  not  arrived  at  the  time  of 

213 


to-morrow         A  Desk-Book  of 

turn 

speaking,  and,  therefore,  "to-morrow  will  be  Christ- 
mas day"  is  preferred.  Longfellow  {Keramos,  line 
331)  says:  "  To-morrow  m//  he  another  day."  But 
the  other  form  also  has  the  sanction  of  usage,  as  the 
following  quotations  will  show: 

"To-morrow,  what  deHght  is  in  to-morrow!" — 
T.  B.  Read,  The  New  Pastoral,  bk.  vi.  1.  163. 

"To-morrow  is  a  satire  on  to-day." — ^YouNG,  Tlie 
Old  Man^s  Relapse,  1.  6. 

The  Bible  affords  numerous  instances  of  this  use  of 
'*is."  Ex.  xvi.  23:  "The  Lord  hath  said,  to-morrow 
is  the  rest  of  the  holy  Sabbath  unto  the  Lord  ";  xxxii. 
5:  "And  Aaron  made  proclamation  and  said,  to- 
morrow is  a  feast  to  the  Lord";  I  Sam.  xx.  5:  "Be- 
hold to-morrow  is  the  new  moon  ";  Matt.  vi.  30:  "If 
God  so  clothe  the  grass  of  the  field,  which  to-day  is, 
and  to-morrow  is  cast  into  the  oven." 

Most  people  would  say  "  Yesterday  was  Friday." 
If  the  thought  is  fixed  upon  the  name  of  the  day,  it  is 
better  to  use  is,  if  upon  the  time  future  it  is  better  to 
use  will  he. 

toney :  A  vulgarism  for  "fancy"  or  "stylish," 
either  of  which  is  a  preferable  term. 

touch,  to:  A  slang  term  for  "to  borrow"  not 
used  by  persons  careful  of  their  diction.  Do  not  say 
"I  touched  him  for  a  ten-spot"  ;  say  rather,  "I  bor- 
rowed ten  dollars  from  him." 

214 


Errors  in  English        to-morrow 

turn 

transpire  is  condemned  by  the  best  ™ters  in  the 
sense  of  happen.  "The  verb  transpire  formerly  con- 
veyed very  expressively  its  correct  meaning,  viz.,  to 
become  known  through  unnoticed  channels — to  ex- 
hale, as  it  were,  into  publicity  through  invisible  pores, 
like  a  vapor  or  gas  disengaging  itself.  But  of  late, 
a  practise  has  commenced  of  employing  the  word 
.  .  .  as  a  mere  synonym  to  to  happen,  .  .  . 
This  vile  specimen  of  bad  English  is  already  seen  in 
the  dispatches  of  noblemen  and  viceroys." — Mill, 
Logic,  bk.  iv.  ch.  5,  p.  483. 

truth.     Compare  veracity. 

try :  This  word  is  often  erroneously  used  for 
"  make. "  Do  iiot  say  "  Try  the  experiment  yourself" 
but  ^'Afake  the  experiment.'*  An  experiment  can 
only  be  tried,  as  a  speech  (in  its  literal,  that  is  verbal, 
sense)  can  only  be  spoken. 

try  and  :  A  common  but  incorrect  locution.  Do 
not  say  "Try  and  come  to-day,"  but,  rather,  "  Try  to 
com.e  to-day." 

tumble  to:  Slang  for  "to  understand."  Do  not 
say  "  Do  you  tumble  to  it  ?  "  Say,  rather,  "  Do  you 
understand  it?  " 

turn  down  :  Undesirable,  though  perhaps  expres- 
sive slang  for  "reject"  ;  "ignore"  ;  or  "dismiss." 
In  commercial  circles,  this  expression  has  wide  usage 
but  is  not  the  less  inelegant  and  should  be  avoided. 
A  proposition  is  quite  as  fully  disposed  of  when  it  is 

il5 


turn  A  Desk-Book  of 

two 

"rejected"  as  when  it  is  "turned  down;  "  besides, 
"rejected"  should  be  given  preference  if  only  by  rea- 
son of  its  brevity. 

turn  up  :  Used  in  the  sense  of  to  "  put  in  an  ap- 
pearance" this  expression  has  been  condemned.  The 
remark  of  a  barrister  in  a  London  County  Court  that 
a  defendant  had  "not  turned  up"  caused  the  Judge 
to  exclaim:  "Pray  do  not  use  such  slip-shod  expres- 
sions. "  The  barrister  apologized.  "  These  are  high- 
pressure  days,"  he  said,  "and  since  your  Honor's 
days  at  the  bar  we  have  no  longer  time  to  indulge 
in  perfect  English." 

twenty-three  :  A  slang  term  used  as  the  equivalent 
of  "fade  away"  in  theatrical  and  sporting  circles:  a 
recent  expression  the  origin  of  which  has  been  va- 
riously explained.     Compare  fade  away. 

two.     Compare  couple. 

two  and  two  is  (or  are)  four :  As  an  abstract  prop. 

osition  or  statem_ent,  is  is  undoubtedly  correct;  foi 

four  is  two  added  to  two,  or  twice  two;  but  when  two 

specific  things  are  added  to  two  others,  the  verb  must 

be  in  the  plural.     In  the  former  case  we  are  saying 

that  a  certain  single  and  definite  result  is  attained  oi 

total  given  by  the  combination  of  two  numbers;  in 

the  latter  we  say  that  in  a  given  body  or  number  of 

things  are  so  many  single  or  individual  things.     Two 

me^  and  two  are  undoubtedly  four;  that  is,  four  men 

are  ^constituted  of)  two  and  two;     Beyond  doubt, 

216 


Errors  in  English  turn 

two 
twice  one  is  two;  for  it  can  not  be  that  two  (as  a  single 
and  specific  number)  are  twice  one. 

two  first :  Of  this  expression  James  Murdock  says: 
"The  only  argument  against  the  use  of  two  first,  and 
in  favor  of  substituting  first  two,  so  far  as  I  can  recol- 
lect, is  this:  In  the  nature  of  things,  there  can  be 
only  one  first  and  one  last,  in  any  series  of  things. 
But — is  it  true  that  there  can  never  be  more  than  one 
first  and  one  last  ?  If  it  be  so,  then  the  adjective  fiist 
and  last  must  always  be  of  the  singular  number,  and 
can  never  agree  with  nouns  in  the  plural.  We  are 
*old  that  tJie  first  years  of  a  lawyer's  practise  are  sel- 
dom very  lucrative.  The  poet  tells  us  that  his  first 
essays  were  severely  handled  by  the  critics,  but  his 
last  efforts  have  been  well  received.  Examples  like 
these  might  be  produced  without  number.  They  oc- 
cur everywhere  in  all  our  standard  writers.  .  .  . 
When  a  numeral  adjective  and  a  qualifying  epithet 
both  refer  to  the  same  noun,  the  general  rule  of  the 
English  language  is  to  place  the  numeral  first,  then 
the  qualifying  epithet,  and  afterwards  the  noun. 
Thus  we  say, '  The  two  wise  men, ' '  the  two  tall  men '  ; 
and  not  '  the  wise  two  men '  '  the  tall  two  men. '  And 
the  same  rule  holds  in  superlatives.  We  say  *  the  two 
wisest  men, '  '  the  two  tallest  men '  and  not  '  the  wisest 
two  men,'  'the  tallest  two  men.'  Now  if  this  be  ad- 
mitted to  be  the  general  rule  of  the  English  language, 
it  then  follows  that  we  should  generally  say  'the  two 

•217 


ugly  A  Desk-Book  of 

unique 

firstf*  'the  two  last,^  etc.,  rather  than  *the  first  twOy* 
'the  last  twOj^  etc.  This,  I  say,  should  generally  be 
the  order  of  the  words.  Yet  there  are  some  cases  in 
which  it  seems  preferable  to  say,  *the  first  two,'  'the 
first  three,'  etc."     Compare  first. 

u 

uglyt  which  signifies  the  reverse  of  beautiful  or  want 
of  comeliness  (actual  or  figurative)  is  colloquially  ex- 
tended in  the  United  States  to  uncomeliness  of  char- 
acter or  personal  demeanor;  as  an  tcgly  fellow;  an 
ugly  beast;  anger  makes  him  ugly.  In  polite  speech 
this  usage  is  not  sanctioned.  Say  "irritable,'' 
"vicious,"  "quarrelsome,"  as  the  disposition  inclines 
or  indicates. 

un-  :  For  the  sake  of  lucidity  the  use  of  a  negative 
prefix  with  a  negative  antecedent  should  be  discour- 
aged. Avoid  such  expressions  as  "He  spoke  in  7io 
immistakable  terms"  which  means,  of  course,  "mis- 
takable  terms"  the  direct  opposite  of  the  speaker's 
intention.  "Not  an  unkempt  one  among  them" 
means  that  all  were  well  kempt. 

unbeknown  :  A  vulgar  provincialism  used  chiefly 
in  the  form  unbeknownst. 

uncommon :  Used  for  uncommonly :  a  vulgarism 
meaning  "to  an  unusual  degree  or  extremely."  Do 
not  say  "Her  «yes  are  uncommon  beautiful";  say, 
rathe?,  **     .     .     .    uncommonly  beautiful." 


Errors  in  English  ^igly 

unique 
unconscionable  :  When  used  for  tinconscionahly  is 
a  bad  provincialism.     Used  also  by  the  illiterate  in- 
stead of  uncommonly ;  as,  "  She  is  an  unconscionable 
handsome  girl  " — this  is  bad  English. 

under  ;  Much  philological  nonsense  has  been  \\Titten 
in  disapproval  of  the  expression  "under  his  signa- 
ture," for  which  "over  his  signature" — that  "prepos- 
terous conceit,"  as  Gould  aptly  terms  it — is  suggested 
as  a  substitute.  But  it  is  clear  that  the  expression 
is  elliptical,  and  means  "under  sanction  or  authority 
of  his  signature."  '^  Under  oath"  is  good  enough  to 
impress  upon  an  unwilling  and  prevaricating  ^^^tness 
the  distinction  between  perjury  and  a  lie,  and  that 
although  he  does  not  physically  lie  under  the  oath. 

understand  should  not  be  used  as  an  expletive  with 
interrogatory  inflection,  as  a  contraction  of  "Do  you 
understand .?"  There  is  no  excuse  for  this  nor  for  its 
objectionable  iteration.  Avoid  such  absurdities  as: 
**  Grammar,  understand,  is  the  science  that  treats  of 
the  principles,  understand,  that  govern  the  correct  use 
of  language,"  etc.    See  is  also  misused  in  the  same 


manner. 


unique  :  As  this  word  implies  "  being  the  only  one 
of  its  kind"  it  should  never  be  preceded  by  "very" 
which  implies  degree.  On  this  subject  the  Standard 
Dictionary  says:  "We  may  say  quite  unique  li  we 
mean  absolutely  singular  or  without  parallel  but  we 
can  not  properly  say  very  unique.'* 

219 


United  States   A    Desk-Book   of 
utter 

United  States  :  Under  this  designation  the  several 
states  comprising  the  American  Union  are  known  col- 
lectively as  one  great  nation.  As  such  the  expression 
is  singular  and  accordingly  is  correctly  followed  by 
a  verb  in  the  singular. 

universally  by  all :  A  common  error.  Where  any- 
thing is  done  universally ,  it  must  be  done  hy  all,  and 
these  words  being  redundant  should  be  omitted. 

universe  should  not  be  used  where  earth  is  intended. 
If  one  desires  to  say  of  a  certain  person  that  he  "  thinks 
he  owns  the  earth,''  one  should  certainly  be  careful  to 
limit  his  vast  possessions  and  not  extend  them  to  the 
universe.  The  latter  embraces  all  comprised  in  space. 
"No  doubt,  there  is  a  universe;  but  the  word  means 
all  created  things,  as  a  whole;  not  only  our  entire 
solar  system,  but  all  the  other  systems  of  which  the 
fixed  stars  are  but  the  centres." — E.  S.  Gould,  Good 
English,  Misused  Words,  p.  83. 

unless.     See  without. 

unwell,  owing  to  its  common  euphemistic  applica- 
tion, should  not  be  used  for  "ill." 

up  :  In  general  the  word  up,  used  in  such  a  phrase 
as  "Open  up"  or  "He  opened  up  his  sermon  with  a 
parable"  is  redundant  and  should  be  omitted.  Com- 
pare OPEN. 

up  against  it :  A  colloquial  expression  used  as  the 
equivalent  of  "face  to  face  with"  some  condition  or 
thing,  usually  of  a  discouraging  or  disastrous  char- 

220 


Errors  in  English  United  states 

utter 
acter.  Though  common  in  commercial  circles  it  is 
an  expression  that  it  is  best  to  avoid. 

upon  :  Often  used  for  on  in  such  phrases  as  "call 
upon,^'  whether  meaning  visit  or  summon^  and  "speak 
(or  write)  upon.^*  The  reasonable  tendency  now  is 
to  use  the  simpler  Ofi  whenever  the  idea  of  superpo- 
sition is  not  involved. 

usage.     Compare  habit. 

use  :  This  word  is  used  in  all  sorts  of  incorrect  and 
inelegant  ways;  yet  the  conjugation  of  the  verb  is 
positive  and  very  simple — use;  used;  using. 
There  appears  to  be  no  difficulty  in  applying  it  af- 
firmatively but  when  used  in  a  negative  form  one  often 
hears  such  uncouth  expressions  as  "You  didnH  use 
to,"  "you  hadnH  used  to  "  instead  of  "You  used  not 
to,"  etc.  It  need  scarcely  be  said  that  these  expres- 
sions are  vulgarisms  of  the  worst  type.  "I  usedn't 
to"  is  not  pretty,  but  is  less  formal  than  "I  used  not 
to,"  and  can  not  be  objected  to  on  grammatical 
grounds. 

usually.     Compare  commonly. 

utter  as  a  verb  should  be  distinguished  from  say^ 
as  articulate  expression  is  differentiated  from  wTitten. 
To  utter,  save  in  the  legal  sense,  is  to  emit  audibly. 
Adjectively  the  word  can  be  used  only  in  an  unfavor- 
able sense  for  "complete."  Utter  discord  there  may 
be,  but  not  utter  harmony;  utter  silence,  but  not  utter 
speech. 

221 


vain  A  Desk-Book  of 

visit 

V 

vain,  vein  :  Words  of  similar  pronunciation  whose 
spelling  is  sometimes  confused  by  the  careless.  Vein 
is  the  Latin  vena,  blood-vessel,  from  veho,  carry,  and 
is  therefore  totally  distinct  from  vain,  which  is  from 
the  Latin  vanus,  empty. 

valuable  is  occasionally  misused  for  valued.  Valih 
able  is  said  correctly  only  of  things  that  have  mone- 
tary value  or  derive  worth  as  from  their  character  or 
quality.  One  may  have  valued  friends  and  valuable 
art- treasures,  but  not  valuable  friends  nor  valued  art- 
treasures. 

venal,  venial :  Discriminate  carefully  between  these 
words.  One  who  is  venal  is  ready  to  sell  his  influence 
or  efforts  for  some  consideration  from  sordid  motives; 
he  is  mercenary.  But  one  who  is  venial  has  com- 
mitted only  a  slight  or  trivial  fault.  A  man  who  has 
sold  his  vote  for  preferment  is  a  venal  poHtician;  a 
starving  man  who  has  stolen  a  loaf  of  bread  for  his 
family  has  been  guilty  of  a  venial  offense. 

ventilate  should  not  be  used  for  "expose"  or  "ex- 
plain." 

veracity,  truth :  Do  not  confound  these  words. 
Truth  is  applied  to  persons  and  facts;  veracity  only 
to  persons  and  to  statements  made  by  them.  One 
should  not  speak  of  the  veracity  of  anything  that  has 
occurred.     A  man  of  integrity  may  have  a' reputation 


Errors  in  English  vain 

visit 
for  veracity;  if  so,  there  is  no  doubt  that  he  told  the 
truth  or  that  the  account  he  gave  was  true. 

verbal  nouns,  especially  such  as  could  be  replaced 
by  a  noun  pure  and  simple,  etymologically  coordinate, 
should  be  preceded  by  a  possessive  in  sentences  of 
this  character:  "The  cause  of  Henry  ('5)  dying  was 
appendicitis."  Dying  is  here  equivalent  to  death; 
and  we  should  (if  we  substituted  the  pronoun)  cer- 
tainly say  "the  cause  of  his  dying"  rather  than  "the 
cause  of  him  dying." 

verse  :  The  chief  meaning  of  this  word  Is  a  single 
line  of  poetr}';  sometimes  it  is  used  as  a  synonym  for 
stanza.  Some  grammarians  advocate  the  use  of  verse 
instead  of  stanza,  and  the  familiar  character  of  the 
word  seems  to  argue  in  favor  of  this  use. 

very  :  Excepting  where  a  participle  is  used  solely 
as  an  adjective,  it  is  now  thought  to  be  more  gram- 
matical to  interpose  an  adverb  between  the  participle 
and  this  word.  Thus,  ^^very  greatly  dissatisfied"  is 
preferred  to  "very  dissatisfied,"  whereas  ^^very  tired" 
is  accepted  as  correct.     Compare  real. 

vest :  In  the  sense  of  waistcoat,  this  word,  which 
is  in  better  usage  a  synonym  for  imderuest,  is  not  used 
by  precise  speakers. 

vice.     Compare  crime. 

vicinity  should  not  be  used  for  ''neighborhood." 

visit :  A  term  sometimes  misused.  Do  not  say 
"The  actor  has  just  visited,  with  much  abuse,  the 

323 


vocation  A  Desk-Book  of 

ways 

head  of  the  critic,"  when  you  mean  that  he  abused 
him  roundly.  This  is  an  erroneous  apphcation  of  the 
word,  which  is  confounded  with  the  Scriptural  usage 
*'to  send  judgment  from  heaven  upon"  as  punish- 
ment. 

vocation.     Compare  avocation. 

w 

wa'n't :  A  contraction  of  was  not,  or  improperly  of 
were  not;  as,  "He  wa^n^t  (or  they  wa^nH)  at  home"  : 
a  common  vulgarism. 

want  and  need  are  not  synonymous  terms,  although 
both  denote  a  lack.  Want,  however,  refers  more 
properly  to  a  personal  conception  of  shortcoming  or 
shortage,  whereas  need  denotes  the  matter  of  fact. 
Thus  a  delinquent  son  may  need  castigation,  w^hile 
he  distinctly  does  not  want  it.  Want,  therefore,  sig- 
nifies a  wdsh  to  supply  what  is  lacking.  But  the  word 
want  is  sometimes  less  strong  than  need,  for  a  covet- 
ous man  wants  (i.  e.,  desires)  many  things  he  does  not 
need  (or  things  for  which  he  has  an  absolute  neces- 
sity). "I  need  assistance  or  I  shall  drown."  Again, 
*'I  want  a  position,  but  do  not  need  it,  because  I 
can  continue  as  I  am  without  it;  but  when  resources 
fail  I  shall  need  it." 

want  of  :  An  undesirable  colloquialism.  Do  not 
say  "What  does  he  want  of  a  yacht?  "  say,  rather. 
want  with,  or  "  What  need  has  he  of  a  yacht  ?  " 

2-Zi 


Errors  in    English  vocation 

ways 

warm  :  A  slang  term  used  for  "rich,"  formerly  in 
^ogue  in  England. 

warm,  not  so  :  A  vulgar  phrase  applied  to  persons 
and  meaning  usually  "not  as  important"  or  "not  as 
accurate"  as  the  person  to  whom  the  epithet  is  ap- 
plied may  think  himself  to  be. 

was,  is  :  These  terms  are  sometimes  confused,  es- 
pecially in  dependent  sentences  that  state  unchanging 
facts.  Then  the  present  tense  should  be  used  in  the 
dependent  sentence  notwithstanding  the  fact  that  the 
principal  verb  may  denote  action  in  the  past.  Say, 
"Ke  said  that  space  is  (not  was)  infinite";  "We 
assert  that  life  is  everlasting. " 

watch,  observe  :  These  words  have  a  similarity  of 
meaning,  but  watch  expresses  a  scrutiny  or  close  ob- 
servation which  is  not  implied  by  the  latter.  You 
obsen-e  a  preacher's  manner  but  carefully  watch  a 
thief.  When  you  observe  intently  and  concentrate  your 
entire  thoughts  upon  the  thing  observed  you  watch. 
You  observe  the  hour  of  day  but  watch  the  time 
lest  you  lose  your  train. 

way  or  'way,  as  an  abbreviation  of  the  adverb  away, 
as  *'^way  out  West,"  is  an  impropriety  of  speech. 
Say,  rather,  "He  has  gone  (or  is  in  the)  West." 

ways,  for  way  :  In  the  sense  of  "  space  or  dis- 
tance," the  erroneous  form  ways,  for  way,  is  often 
used  colloquially,  perhaps  originally  through  confu- 
sion with  the  sufl&x  -ways;  as,  "  The  church  is  a  long 

225 


weary  A  Desk-Book  of 

wherever 

ways  from  here,"  which  should  be  "The  church  is  a 

long  way,^^  etc. 

weary.     Compare  tired. 

weather,  under  the:  In  the  sense  of  "somewhat 
ill,"  as  though  depressed  by  the  weather,  this  is  a 
colloquialism  better  avoided. 

went :  This  word  should  never  be  used  as  a  par- 
ticiple; say,  "He  went''  or  "he  has  gone"  instead  of 
"he  has  went.''  Never  use  went  after  any  part  of 
the  verb  have.  Do  not  say  "I  have  went  there 
often"  ;  but  "I  have  been  there  often. "  Went  should 
yiever  be  used  for  go.  Some  illiterate  people  say  "I 
should  have  went"  when  they  mean  "I  should  have 
gone. " 

were  her  :  Often  used  incorrectly  as  in  the  sentence 
"If  I  were  her. "  Say,  rather,  "  If  I  were  she. "  Her 
is  the  objective  case  ;  here  the  nominative  she  should 
be  used. 

wharf :  E.  S.  Gould  declares  that  as  dwarves 
would  be  an  improper  plural  for  dwarf,  so  is  wharves 
for  wharf.  However,  both  forms  are  now  admitted. 
Compare  dock. 

what :  As  what  is  both  antecedent  and  relative  the 
use  of  the  antecedent  with  this  word  is  wrong.  "All 
what  he  said  was  false"  should  be  corrected  by  the 
elision  of  "all."  What  is  used  only  in  reference  to 
things,  whereas  that  can  be  said  of  persons,  animals, 
and  things,  and  can  be  substituted  for  it. 

226 


Errors  in   English  weary 

wherever 

what  was,  what  was  not :  ''What  was"  and  "what 
wasn't  my  surprise"  may  both  be  used  correctly  to 
express  considerable  surprise,  and  with  almost  the 
same  meaning,  the  one  expression  differing  from  the 
other  but  by  a  shade  in  sense.  "Hew  great  was  my 
surprise,"  and  "What  surprise  could  equal  or  be 
greater,  than  mine,"  would  about  paraphrase  the 
usages.  The  former  sentence  implies  great  surprise, 
but  the  possibility  (though  unref erred  to)  of  a  greater; 
the  latter  indicates  that  there  could  not  be  any  greater 
surprise 

wheels  in  the  (or  his)  head,  to  have  :  A  slang  phrase 
used  as  a  substitute  for  "to  be  eccentric,  pecuHar, 
or  erratic." 

whence  :  "Whence  came  you"  is  sufficient  and 
correct.  "From  whence^'  is  pleonastic,  the  whence 
being  nothing  less  than  "from  where"  and  thus  in- 
cluding the  from.     Compare  thence. 

where  :  The  prepositions  to  or  at  should  never  end 
a  sentence  beginning  with  where.  Such  use  is  vulgar 
and  illiterate.  Avoid:  "Where  has  he  gone  to?^* 
"IF/^ercwas  I  at?" 

whereabouts  :  This  word,  plural  in  form,  but  sin- 
gular in  construction,  always  takes  a  verb,  in  the 
singular.  "Husband  and  wife  disappeared;  their 
whereabouts  is  a  myster}'. " 

wherever  :  This  word,  although  a  combination  of 

two  words  "where"  and  "ever"  is  not  spelt  "where 

227 


whether  A  Desk-Book  of 

without 

ever"  when  written  as  a  solid  word.     Then  it  drops 

the  first  "e"  in  "ever"  and  is  correctly  "wherever." 

whether  :  Avoid  such  a  locution  as  "  whether  or  no," 
which  is  rapidly  gaining  ground,  and  say  instead  the 
preferable  phrase,"  whether  or  not."  Whether  prop- 
erly means  "which  of  two."  Therefore,  in  express- 
ing doubt,  make  mention  merely  of  the  exact  thing 
doubted  without  using  the  word  whether  unless  It  be  to 
introduce  an  alternative  subject  of  doubt  or  a  compar- 
ison of  doubts.  Just  as  either,  which  is  strictly  appli- 
cable to  two  only  is  vtrongly  applied  to  more  than  two, 
so  is  whether,  which  is  a  contraction  of  which  of  either. 

which.     Compare  that,  who. 

who  :  Often  improperly  used  for  whom  :  a  mark  of 
ignorance  when  so  applied.  Do  not  say  "  Who  do  you 
refer  to  ?  "  but  "  To  whom  do  you  refer  ?  "  Not  "  Who 
is  that  for?"  nor  "Who  did  you  give  it  to?"  but 
"For  whom  is  that?  "  "To  whom  did  you  give  it?" 
Compare  that,  who. 

whole,  whole  of  :  The  whole  or  whole  oj  should  be 
used  before  a  plural  noun  carefully,  and  then  only 
when  the  body  is  referred  to  collectively.  In  general 
the  word  entire  w^ould  better  express  the  phrase.  In 
such  cases  all  should  never  be  employed,  as  this  re- 
lates to  the  individual  of  which  the  body  is  composed. 
Thus,  one  may  say,  "  The  whole  staff  accompanied  the 
general,"  or  (for  emphasis)  "The  whole  oj  the  staff," 
etc.,  but  it  would  be  better  to  say  "The  entire  staff." 

228 


Errors  in   English  whether 

without 
If  referring  to  the  individual  officers,  the  sentence 
should  read  "All  members  of  the  staff  accompanied 
the  general." 

whole  push,  the.     See  push. 

widow  woman :  A  pleonasm.  Do  not  use  the 
word  widow,  which  applies  only  to  a  woman,  with  the 
words  woman  or  lady.  It  is  an  error  of  speech,  com- 
mon in  rural  districts,  against  w^hich  it  is  wise  to  con- 
tinually guard. 

wife.     Compare  lady. 

wild  :  A  colloquiaHsm  for  *' angry"  w^hich  is  to  be 
preferred. 

windbag  :  A  coarse  term  for  a  boastful  and  wordy 
talker:  not  used  by  persons  who  cultivate  a  refined 
diction.  "Braggart,"  " braggadocia, "  are  more  ele- 
gant, yet  equally  expressive  terms. 

with,  and  :  A  nominative  singular  is  sometimes  used 
with  an  objective  after  with  to  form,  jointly,  the  subject 
of  a  plural  verb;  as  "The  captain  with  all  his  crew 
were  drowned. "  But  according  to  best  usage  the  con- 
junction a7id  is  substituted  for  "with"  ;  thus,  "The 
captain  and  all  his  crew  were  drowned."  Where  the 
objective  is  separated  parenthetically  by  commas,  a 
verb  in  the  singular  is  used;  as,  "  Aguinaldo,  with  all 
his  followers,  was  captured  by  Gen.  Funston." 

without:  This,  as  used  for  "except"  or  "unless" 
is  at  the  present  day  a  vulgarism.  "  Without  you  in- 
tend business,  do  not  call"  ;  say,  unless. 

229 


witness  A  Desk-Book  of 

you 

witness.     Compare  see. 

woman.     Compare  lady. 

worse  :  An  adverb  sometimes  used  for  more;  as, 
"He  disliked  tea  worse  than  coffee"  :  a  vulgarism. 

worst  kind:  For  much  or  extremely;  as,  "I  need 
(or  want)  a  new  pen  the  worst  kind  "  :  a  vulgarism,  be- 
sides equivocally  suggesting  "  the  worst  kind  of  a  pen. " 

would  better.     Compare  had  better. 

would  say  :  A  hackneyed  expression  used  by  many 
commercial  correspondents;  inelegant  and  useless. 

would  seem  should  not  be  used  for  "seems." 

wrath.     Compare  temper. 

write  you  :  This  expression,  for  '*  write  to  you, " 
though  common,is  not  grammatically  correct.  Where 
an  object  is  expressed  the  dative  "  to"  may  be  omitted. 
"He  shipped  me  costly  fabrics,"  for  "he  shipped 
costly  fabrics  to  we"  is  permissible,  but  ''he  shipped 
we"  without  any  objective,  or  rather  other  objective 
of  me  would  imply  that  the  person  speaking  had  been 
shipped.  Of  the  expression  "I  will  write  you,"  the 
only  justification  for  it  that  can  be  found  is  in  the 
supposition  that  the  words  "a  letter"  are  understood. 

Y 

yappy  :  A  slang  term  used  as  an  equivalent  of 

"foolish"  which  is  to  be  preferred. 

yes  :  Discard  such  vulgarisms  as  yeh  and  yep  and 

oronounce  as  a  single  syllable,  and  not  with  affecta- 

230 


Errors  in  English  witness 

you 

tion,  as,  sometimes  in  England  ya-as,  or  with  a  Yankee 
drawl  ye-es.  Avoid,  too,  the  objectionable  habit  of 
using  this  word  as  the  sole  response  in  conversation; 
a  habit  which  is  indeed  fatally  destructive  of  conver- 
sation, which  should  partake  more  or  less  of  an  inter- 
change of  ideas.  "Yes!  she  would  reply  encourag- 
ingly .  .  .  and  *yesl  *  conclusively,  like  an 
incarnation  of  stupidity  dealing  in  monosyllables." 
(Meredith,  "Beaucharop's  Career,"  vol.  iii.  ch.  lo, 
p.  185.)  Also,  when  speaking  in  English  do  not  inject 
the  German  "  Ja!  "  when  you  wish  to  signify  assent. 
This  practice  is  rapidly  gaining  ground  among  the 
middle  class. 

Yid  :  A  Jew:  an  appellation  common  among  the 
^Tilgar  and  therefore  one  to  be  avoided. 

you  even  when  used  in  relation  to  one  person,  is 
still  grammatically  plural,  always  requiring  the  plural 
verb;  as,  "You  -were  fortunate,"  not  ''You  was  for- 
tunate" ;  "If  you  were  to  curse  you  would  sin,"  not 
"If  you  was  to  curse,"  etc. 

you  and  I,  you  or  I  :  Phrases  in  which  the  objective 
pronoun  me  and  the  first  personal  pronoun  /  are  often 
confused;  as,  "This  will  not  do  for  you  and  /,"  in- 
stead of  "This  will  not  do  for  you  and  me.'"  The 
rule  is  very  simple,  viz. :  use  I  or  me  in  such  connec- 
tion just  as  if  the  words  "you  and"  or  "you  or"  were 
omitted.  "They  were  not  citizens  as  {you  and)  /"  ; 
"He  is  not  so  tall  as  (you  or)  /." 

231 


you  A   Desk-Book  of 

zeugma 

you  don't  say  ?    Compare  is  that  so  ? 

your's  truly  :  An  incorrect  form,  yours  being  a  pos- 
sessive pronoun  does  not  need  the  sign  of  the  posses- 
sive after  it. 


zeugma  :  "  Is  the  J oining  of  two  or  more  words  (as 
nouns)  to  a  third  (as  a  verb)  with  which  only  one  or 
a  part  of  them  can  be  made  to  agree  except  by  using 
the  nouns  in  different  senses,  or  by  taking  the  verb  in 
different  senses  in  relation  to  the  different  nouns,  or 
by  letting  the  underlying  logical  relation  overrule  the 
grammatical — in  Greek  a  very  common  figure,  but 
in  English  quite  unusual  and  ordinarily  a  violation  of 
the  principles  of  construction  and  a  grave  fault  in 
diction.  "  The  control,  as  well  as  the  support,  which  a 
father  exercises  over  his  family  were,  by  the  dispensa- 
tion of  Providence,  withdrawn"  ;  control  is  properly 
exercised,  but  support  is  not;  the  verb-form  were  is 
made  plural  to  accord,  not  with  the  grammatical  re- 
lation of  control  and  support,  but  with  the  logical  rela- 
tion underlying  as  well  as  regarded  as  equivalent  to 
and.'^ — Standard    Dictionary.      Compare    with 

AND. 


232 


